Mitchell Volleyball Loses Season Opener Against CGA

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Michell College volleyball team opened up the 2022 season with a 3-0 loss to Coast Guard Academy on Thursday afternoon at the Yarnall Athletic Center. 

The Bears won by set scores of 25-20, 25-18, and 25-20. Shannan Shaw and Sarah Somer tied for a team-high of seven kills to lead Coast Guard, while Noelle Tursky added a team-high 10 digs in the win. 

Olivia DeLoach paced the Mariners with a team-high eight kills. Claire Binfield added a team-high 12 diggs, while also posting six assists, which led the Mariners. 

In the opening set, the Bears jumped out to a 20-12 lead, before Mitchell trimmed the deficit to three, getting the score as close as 23-20. The Bears then responded with back to back points to take the set,  25-20.

The Mariners kept up the pace to begin the second set, building a 7-2 lead, which led to a timeout called by Coast Guard. The Bears then rallied, with the lead changing multiple times over the next few minutes. The score settled at 16-16, before Coast Guard scored seven consecutive points to gain control, pulling away 25-18.

Coast Guard scored the first four points of the third set, and led the entire third set. The Mariners got the game to within three points at 20-17, but the Bears responded with three straight points to widen their lead, winning 20-25.

The game was the debut for new Mitchell head coach Tony Nocera, who took over the program this past summer. 

Mitchell (0-1) will play next on Tuesday, September 6th at Albertus Magnus at 6:00 pm.