NEW LONDON, Conn.- The Wheaton College women's volleyball team lost two times in three sets to a pair of Connecticut schools at the United States Coast Guard Academy on Saturday in Merriman Gymnasium. 

The Lyons played the host Bears tough in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) match to start the day, falling by scores of 25-22, 28-26 and 25-14.  Wheaton then lost a 3-0 (10-25, 23-25, 23-25) decision to Eastern Connecticut State University.

In the opener against Coast Guard, freshmen Casey Hess (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) and Kendall Jacobs (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) each had four kills, while classmates Arieanne Creighton (Brookline, N.H./Hollis Brookline) and Taylor Matook (Exeter, R.I./Exeter-West Greenwich) posted three apiece.

Freshmen Jackie Kochiss (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) and Page Gustofson (South Lake Tahoe, Calif./South Tahoe) were credited with 10 and seven assists, respectively.

First-year player Robyn D'Agostino (Three Bridges, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional) turned in a team-best seven digs and a team-high-tying three service aces, while freshman Elise Waelder (San Diego, Calif./Point Loma) matched D'Agostino's three aces to go along with a squad-high-tying four blocks.  Jacobs also registered four blocks, including two of the solo variety.

Wheaton held a 12-7 edge in the opening set and led 18-15 before the Bears ran off five straight points for a 20-18 edge.  The contest was tied 20-all, but Coast Guard scored five of the final seven points for the win.

The Lyons scored the first four points in the second set and led 6-1, but the hosts went on a 16-5 run for a 17-11 advantage.  Wheaton rallied to close to within 19-18 and had a pair of set points, but the Bears scored the final three for the two-point victory.

In the final set, the visitors against got off to quick start with a 4-0 lead, but Coast Guard rattled off 10 of the next 12 points for a 10-6 lead.  The Bears later went on an 11-2 spurt to put things out of reach.

In the day's second match with Eastern, first-year player Anastasia Tammen (San Pedro, Calif./Bishop Montgomery) led the hitting attack with 10 kills.  Jacobs added seven.

Gustofson finished with 16 assists, Kochiss contributed a team-best 13 digs and five assists, while D'Agostino recorded nine digs.

The Warriors jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead in the opener and used a 6-1 run later to open up a 17-8 lead en route to the win.

In the second set, Eastern led 23-16 before the Lyons scored seven of the next eight points to pull within 24-23.

The final set saw the Warriors hold a 15-9 advantage.  Wheaton rallied to knot the contest at 19 apiece, but Eastern closed things out with a 6-4 spurt.

Wheaton next hosts Babson College in a NEWMAC match on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.