SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Wheaton College womens' volleyball team was defeated in four sets, 25-16, 25-18, 16-25, 25-18, this evening by host Springfield College at Blake Arena in Springfield, Mass. in the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference opener for both teams. The Lyons fall to 6-2 overall and 0-1 in league play, while the Pride, who received votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll, improve to a perfect 8-0 and 1-0 in conference action.

Senior outside hitter Adara Hamilton (Mercer Island, Wash.) finished a kill shy of a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs to go with a pair of aces and a .208 hitting percentage to lead Wheaton. Junior middle hitter Bailey Madrzyk (Barrington, Ill.) spiked for eight kills, served an ace and came up with a block, while junior setter Hannah George (Duxbury, Mass.) registered her second career double-double with a career-high matching 10 digs and 14 assists.

For Springfield, Camryn Bancroft (Eastport, N.Y.) tallied a match-high 11 kills, while Ashley Tanner (Manorville, N.Y.) turned in 10 kills and seven digs.  Sara Labadorf (Huntersville, N.C.) totaled 33 assists, Natalie Billet (Commack, N.Y.) registered nine kills, five digs, and two aces, and classmate Kylie Wixted (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) delivered seven kills and six blocks in the middle.  Hailey Deguire (Schenectady, N.Y.) had 10 digs and Briana Tovar (Tucson, Ariz.) contributed eight digs and three aces.  

The Lyons stayed within striking distance of the Pride at 12-8 in the opening set, but the home team continued to put distance between itself and Wheaton, before finally taking a 25-16 first set win.

Wheaton owned an early 3-2 edge in the second frame, but Springfield later took a 16-11 advantage. The Lyons came back, fueled by a kill and an ace from Madrzyk with a kill and an ace to make it 18-15, but the Pride pulled away, scoring seven of the next 10 points.

Wheaton held Springfield to a -.132 hitting mark in the third set, while jumping out to a 7-2 early lead. The Lyons remained in control for the remainder of the set, increasing their advantage to 17-6. Sophomore middle hitter Megan Kelleher (Wethersfield, Conn.) spiked for a kill to bring Wheaton to within set point at 24-12, but the Pride countered with the next four points to close to within 24-16. Kelleher shut the door with another kill to give the Lyons the third frame at 25-16.

The teams were tied at 6-6 in the fourth set before Springfield got out to a 14-11 margin. The Pride ripped off six unanswered points to extend their lead to 20-11, including a pair of aces from Tovar. Wheaton still showed some life with a late 5-0 run, backed by a pair of kills from junior right side hitter Emily Hickey (Kennebunk, Maine), to pull to within 22-18. Springfield ended the set and the night with the next three points for a 25-18 set win.

The Lyons return to play with tri-match play at Emerson Gymnasium on Saturday, September 18, taking on NEWMAC foe Smith College at 11:00 a.m. to begin the day.

The Pride head to Wellesley to take on conference opponent Wellesley College for a 1:00 p.m. start.