Volleyball Falls to Nichols in Four Sets

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Mitchell College women's volleyball team fell to Nichols College 3-1 on Thursday night in a hard-fought non-conference game at the Yarnall Athletic Center. 

In a match that was highly contested throughout, the Bison won by set scores of 25-22, 25-21, and 27-25 after the Mariners began the evening by winning the opening set 25-16. Jayleen Fegan led Nichols with 13 kills and added 13 digs, while Sydney Ball also posted a double-double with 12 kills and 20 digs. Liz Diorio chipped in 19 digs and Kya Burdier tallied a match-high 26 assists. 

Molly Steel-Miller finished with a team-high nine kills for Mitchell. Olivia DeLoach had eight kills and 13 digs, while Allison Blum contributed seven kills and 10 digs. Julia Lent led the Mariners with 16 digs and Claire Binfield dished out a team-high 24 assists. 

In the opening set Nichols jumped out to a quick 3-1 advantage. Mitchell answered by scoring four straight to take the lead, which they would not give up. The Bison tied the game at 7-7 then at 8-8, but both times the Mariners pulled ahead. They closed the set by taking six of the final eight points, with DeLoach, Binfield, and Sa'Mya Epps all registering kills.

The second set was tight until late. After an attack error by Nichols put Mitchell ahead 18-17, the Bison scored five straight to gain control. Trailing by four, the Mariners would score three in a row to make it a 23-22 set, but back to back kills by Fegan brought it to an end. 

Nichols led the entire third set despite the Mariners hanging tight on their heels. The Mariners found themselves down 22-21 before three straight points, including a kill by Ball, sent the game to the fourth set. 

The action was back and forth in the fourth set, with both squads matching each other throughout. Mitchell led 23-21 late, which immediately led to three straight points for the Bison. The Mariners rebounded, scoring two consecutive points on a service error and a kill by Blum to jump ahead one. Nichols capped the evening, however, with three straight, taking the set 27-25. 

Mitchell (6-4 overall) will look to snap their two-game losing skid when they play next at Western Connecticut State University on Monday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m. Meanwhile, Nichols (10-3 overall) returns to action on Saturday, September 24 at Salve Regina.