BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Junior outside hitter Annah Shaheen (Portsmouth, N.H.) tallied a match-high 13.5 points, including eight kills and four aces to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) women's volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-16) win over host Bridgewater State University this evening at the Tinsley Center in Bridgewater, Mass.

The Lyons improve to 9-9 on the season, while the Bears fall to 9-6.

Wheaton hit at least .219 in every set and owned a .279 attack percentage for the night.

Shaheen added eight digs and two blocks with a .185 hitting percentage for the Lyons, while junior middle hitter Megan Kelleher (Wethersfield, Conn.) put down six kills in nine attempts and no errors for a .667 hitting mark to go with four total blocks and two digs. First year outside hitter Sydney Lyon (Weston, Conn.) swung for six kills on a .417 hitting clip and added four digs. Junior setter Julianna Flack (Saint Petersburg, Fla.) set for 24 assists and fired two aces in addition to seven digs and senior libero Sophie Wilhelm (Saunderstown, R.I.) picked up a match-high 10 digs to go with two aces.

First year outside hitter Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.) led Bridgewater State with five kills and three aces and added three digs and a block assist, while first year right side hitter Meaghan Coutu (Brookline, N.H.) also put down five kills and got up for a block assist. Junior defensive specialist Victoria Caiano (Acushnet, Mass.) scooped up eight digs for the Bears. 

Wheaton cruised to a first set 25-15 victory after hitting .455, while holding Bridgewater State to -.120 mark. The Bears only lead of the set came at 2-1. The Lyons later held an 8-7 edge, before an 8-2 stretch gave them a 16-9 cushion. Wheaton maintained a 20-14 margin, before putting the match away with a 5-1 burst, including an ace from senior defensive specialist Ariana Rajaee (Marlborough, Mass.) to take the set.

Bridgewater took an early 10-7 lead in the second frame, before the teams were knotted at 10-10. The home team ripped off five straight points, including three aces and a kill from Gowell, to give the Bears a 15-10 advantage. The Lyons roared back with a 10-3 stretch that gave them a 20-18 lead, including a pair of kills from Lyon. The teams were tied again at 22-22, but Wheaton scored the final three points to take the set at 25-22.

The Lyons left no doubt to the outcome in the third set and never trailed in the frame. Shaheen put down three kills and fired an ace to power a 10-4 start for Wheaton. The home team came back with a 5-2 burst, including a pair of kills from Gowell, to cut the deficit to 12-9. The Lyons effectively put the set out of reach with eight of the next nine points, including two kills from first year outside hitter Celina Henn (Atwater, Calif.) and two aces from Shaheen. First year middle hitter Hollis Hanson (Parker, Colo.) gave Wheaton the win with a kill to make it 25-16.

The Lyons return to action with a tri-match on Saturday, October 15, hosting Western New England University at Emerson Gymnasium for an 11:00 a.m. start, before honoring their seniors prior to their 3:00 p.m. contest with Eastern Connecticut State University. Bridgewater State will play again on the same day at 12:00 p.m., hosting Westfield State University.