Lizzie Taylor grabs 19 digs in the loss for Westfield State University. (Photo courtesy of WSU Sports)
WESTFIELD – Westfield State University volleyball dropped their home opener, 3-1, to Keene State on Wednesday in the Woodward Center.
Keene was paced by Rachel Lamica (Malone, N.Y./ Franklin Academy) and Courtney Collins (Litchfield, N.H./ Pinkerton Academy) who tallied 15 and 12 kills respectively. Collins added four digs and four block assists in the winning effort.
Lizzie Taylor (Medfield, Mass./ Medfield) highlighted the Owls’ effort with game- highs in digs (19) and service aces (6), along with four kills.
Keene jumped out in the first set for a 25-17 victory before Westfield rallied for a win in the second by the same margin. The third set was knotted at 22 before the visiting Owls rattled off three straight points for the win.
Keene used the momentum to cruise to a 25-16 result in the decisive final set.
Brigid Murray (Norfolk, Mass./ King Phillip Regional) dished out a game- high 27 assists. The visiting setting combo of Jenny Nohara (Honolulu, Hawaii/ Ledyard (CT)) and Katie Cunningham (Nelsonville, N.Y./ Haldane) posted 20 and 16 assists each.
Keene State held a 45-33 margin in kills and a 7-2 advantage in total team blocks on the night.
Westfield slips to 0-4 on the young season and Keene State improves to 2-3.
Both teams return to action on Friday, Sept. 9 in weekend tournaments. Westfield opens the Trinity College Invitational with Clark University and Keene faces Rivier in the Granite State Challenge hosted by Daniel Webster. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
