NORTON, Mass.- The Wheaton College women's volleyball team opened its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) slate against defending champion Springfield College on Tuesday night, taking a 3-0 (8-25, 19-25, 17-25) loss in Emerson Gymnasium.

Playing the Pride for the second time in five days, the Lyons fall to 3-6 overall, while Springfield, which was receiving national votes in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, won for the sixth time in seven matches to improve to 7-2.

Wheaton freshman Casey Hess (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) led the attack with five kills, while senior Rachel Vergara (Needham, Mass./Needham) and first-year player Arieanne Creighton (Brookline, N.H./Hollis Brookline) added four kills each.

Freshman Jackie Kochiss (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) recorded 14 assists and eight digs, classmate Robyn D'Agostino (Three Bridges, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional) had seven digs, while Creighton and Vergara contributed six digs apiece.

For the visiting Pride, senior Mary Consol (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) turned in 11 kills.  Sophomore Molly Giannattasio (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) distributed 16 assists, while classmate Amy Entel (Berkley, Mass./Somerset) and freshman Kerry Purcell (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) added 11 and 10 digs, respectively.

Wheaton trailed Springfield by a 9-4 count in the opening set before the visitors went on a 14-2 run to put the contest out of reach.  A Consol kill and a Giannattasio service ace, one of three for her, gave the Pride a quick 1-0 edge.

The hosts battled back in the second set, tying Springfield seven times, including at 13-all.  The Lyons then hung around and were down 20-18 on a kill from freshman Elise Waelder (San Diego, Calif./Point Loma), but the Pride used a 5-1 run to close things out.

Wheaton held a 5-4 lead in the third and final set before Springfield answered with a 5-0 spurt for a lead it wouldn't relinquish.  The Lyons crept back to within one at 10-9, but the Pride responded with six straight points and led by at least six the rest of the way.

Wheaton is back in action this Saturday for a tri-match at league foe United States Coast Guard Academy at 11:00 a.m.  The Lyons face Eastern Connecticut State University at 1:00 p.m.