SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--The Western New England University volleyball team wrapped up its regular season schedule with a 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 17-15) victory over Gordon College this afternoon on senior day in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action at the Alumni Healthful Living Center. The Fighting Scots hung tough in the match despite going down a set after three and had a handful of chances to lock up the victory before the home team survived in five sets.

The match served as a de facto play-in game for the third seed and a chance to host a first round matchup in next week's CCC tournament. Gordon entered the day with the likelihood of either being the third seed with a win or the sixth seed with a loss, due to losing in a three-way tiebreak for fourth.

Prior to the start of the match, Western New England honored its lone senior, Jenna Leuck (Dumont, N.J.), and junior Torie Howdeshell (Fairbanks, Alaska), who will be graduating early next May.

Western New England, which led 22-18 late in the opening set following an attack error by Snyder, fell victim to a 7-1 Gordon run the rest of the way as the Fighting Scots took a 1-0 lead in the match.

The Golden Bears bounced back with consecutive 25-20 wins in sets two and three, respectively, to claim a 2-1 advantage. Western New England was aided by a match-best .306 hitting percentage in the third frame.

Needing a fourth set win to stay alive, the Fighting Scots opened up a 16-10 lead midway through the frame, but the Golden Bears battled all the way back to tie the score at 21. Gordon was able to come away with a 25-23 win, however, to send the contest to a fifth and deciding set.

The visitors were in control early in the fifth set, leading 4-0, but Western New England reeled off four straight points after the teams switched sides to take a 9-8 lead. The back-and-forth frame featured six ties after that point, including a 15-15 deadlock. Consecutive kills by Holmes sealed the thrilling finish in Western New England's favor as the Golden Bears came away with a win in their regular season finale. Gordon held two match points at 14-13 and 15-14, but the home team managed to come away with the big point in each moment.

Underclassmen Mackenzie Hinds (Higganum, Conn.) and Amanda Snyder (San Jose, Calif.) were the top offensive threats for the Scots on Saturday. Hinds hit .194 with 10 kills, while Snyder had a team-high 15 kills. Maggie Risma (Hudson, Ohio) tied her season high with 32 digs and Renee Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) had her fifth match with at least 40 assists.

Up Next

These two teams will meet again when the CCC Tournament gets underway with quarterfinal round action on Tuesday night, as third-seeded Western New England (19-9, 7-2 CCC) will host sixth-seeded Gordon (13-14, 5-4 CCC). 

Release courtesy of WNE