Volleyball Falls Short at Coast Guard

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's volleyball team traveled across town on Thursday night, and for the second time in as many games dropped an out of conference match against a squad in their zip code, falling in straight sets against Coast Guard Academy at Roland Hall.

The Bears won by set scores of 25-11, 25-29, and 25-19, dropping the Mariners overall record on the season to 7-15.

Junior Bliss Brown (Rainbow City, Ala.) paced the Mariners with 13 kills and 12 digs. For Brown, it continues her historic season, as she now has 310 kills avgeraging 3.65 kills per set with three matches remaining, both individual season records in the Division III era of the program. Fellow junior Allison Blum (Gardon Grove, Cali.) added 10 kills and six digs, while sophomore Julia Lent (Miller Place N.Y.) recorded a team-high 15 defensive digs, and sophomore Jenna Blankenship (Virden, Ill.) handed out 18 assists.

Allie Wildsmith recorded 13 kills to lead the Bears. Shannon Shaw was right behind her with 11 kills, while Kaela France tallied 25 digs, and Elizabeth Atkinson was credited with 29 assists.

The Mariners (7-15, 5-8 GNAC) will return to action on Wednesday, November 1st, when they host Western Connecticut State University in their final non-conference match of the season at 7:00 pm. The Bears (17-7, 6-3 NEWMAC) return to conference play on Tuesday, October 31st, when they welcome in Smith College.