Owls Take Flight

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State Owls volleyball team defeated the Western New England Golden Bears in straight sets (25-17, 29-27, 25-19) at the Woodward Center on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

The Owls grab their first win of the season and the Golden Bears slip to 4-3.

Bridgette McAndrews (Longmeadow, Mass./ Longmeadow) and Michaela O'Connor (Shrewsbury, Mass./ Shrewsbury) paced the Owl offense with 10 kills each. McAndrews also picked up a match-high 14 digs.

Sarah Scott (Granby, Mass./ The MacDuffie School) led Western New England in kills (10), service aces (6) and digs (12).

The opening frame was knotted at 14 when Ashley Crowley (Billerica, Mass./ Billerica Memorial) landed a kill to take the lead. Jess Haradon (Mansfield, Mass./ Mansfield) followed with an ace and the Owls went on a five point run to put the set in hand.

Westfield maintained the momentum into a tightly contested second set. The Owls erased a four- point deficit (18-22) and outlasted the visitors down the stretch to pick up the win, 29-27.

The net play of Julia Bartiet (Cheshire, Conn./ Cheshire) helped lead Westfield in the third to secure the victory. Bartiet had two of her three solo blocks and chipped in two block assists in the final frame.

Julia Dangel- Garcia (Ashland, Mass./ Ashland) dished out 22 assists in the win. Golden Bear setter Hailey Sell (Glen Allen, Va./ Deep Run) recorded 30.

Both teams take to the road for nonconference tri-matches this weekend on Saturday, Sept. 18.  Westfield will take on Rivier, and Maine Maritime, at Rivier while Western New England faces off against Wheaton, and Smith, at Wheaton.