NEW LONDON, N.H. – October 1, 2019 – The Colby-Sawyer women's volleyball team dropped an exciting five-set non-conference match to New England College, 3-2, Tuesday evening. The Pilgrims won by scores of 25-23, 17-25, 25-18, 23-25 and 15-9.

NEC improves to 8-8. The Pilgrims travel to Mitchell for a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) contest. Colby-Sawyer dips to 8-11. The Chargers host a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match on Saturday with Emmanuel and Suffolk.

The Pilgrims were led by sophomore Tihani Ehia (Kaneohe, Hawaii). She posted 13 kills and a match best 30 digs. Junior teammate Dreka Griffin (Calera, Ala.) also had 13 kills, while first-year Shirita Wimberly (Waipahu, Hawaii) contributed 10 kills. Sophomore setter Maggie Dadmun (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) registered 25 assists and three aces.

Colby-Sawyer received a team best 10 kills from sophomore Sam Mohammed (Killingworth, Conn.). Senior Naarah Cox (Boston, Mass.) added nine kills and six blocks. She moved into t-4th in solo blocks with 96. Senior Morgan Flynn (Reading, Mass.) picked up 24 digs to move into fifth all-time with 1277. Sophomore setter Anna Allen (Los Angeles, Calif.) had a double-double of 28 assists and 22 digs. Senior Rebecca Straubel (Altamont, N.Y.) tallied eight kills, 15 digs and a pair of aces.

The first set featured six ties and a couple of lead changes. The Chargers led 11-7 after a Bre Sheehan (Stillwater, N.Y.) ace that forced an NEC timeout. Colby-Sawyer later held its largest lead of the set at 17-8 before the Pilgrims began the comeback. Trailing 23-22, NEC scored the next three points capped by a Dadmun ace to end the frame.

Colby-Sawyer returned the favor in the second set as the home team trailed 13-11 before beginning a 6-0 run to take command. A Straubel kill and an NEC error closed the set in favor of the Chargers 25-17.

NEC scored the first four points of the third set and never looked back. The visitors went in front by as much as 11 points and cruised to the 25-18 victory.

The Chargers battled back in the fourth with a gritty 25-22 win behind three kills from Cox and Mohammed. NEC held a 21-18 advantage, but after a Colby-Sawyer timeout, the Chargers finished the set on a 7-2 run capped by a kill from Cox.

Colby-Sawyer raced out to a 4-1 lead in the deciding set to force an NEC timeout. The Pilgrims regrouped and tied the score at 6-6. NEC then used a 5-1 spurt to separate from the Chargers and went on for the 15-9 fifth set win to clinch the match.  

For the latest on Colby-Sawyer Athletics, follow the Chargers on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CSCathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/CSCathletics) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/CSCathletics).