Volleyball Posts 3-0 Mark at Gordon Invitational

WENHAM, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University volleyball team opened the 2013 season by going 3-0 at the Gordon Invitational on Saturday.

The Bears downed Husson University in their first match, 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-12), and followed that up with a 3-1 (19-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-17) victory over the University of Saint Joseph.  Bridgewater capped off the day with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-16) triumph over Newbury College.

BSU senior libero Kristen Robillard (Swansea, Mass.) earned tournament MVP honors as she helped Bridgewater post the best record at the tournament.  Freshman setter Charleyne Panner (Gilford, N.H.) also grabbed all-tournament honors for the Bears as she was making her collegiate debut.

Robillard recorded 17 digs to go along with three aces in BSU's 3-0 win over Husson.  Junior Sarah Mullarkey (Salem, Mass.) tallied 15 assists and seven digs, while senior Danielle Dean (Gilford, N.H.) registered four kills, four aces and six digs.  Panner posted nine assists, two aces and five digs.

In the Bears 3-1 victory of Saint Joseph, Panner led the way with 34 assists, six kills and eight digs.  Robillard recorded 24 digs and three aces, while Dean notched nine kills, ten digs and an ace. Bridgewater dropped the first set of the match, but rallied to win the next three.

Freshman outside hitter Hannah Maymon (Narragansett, R.I.) added nine kills, 16 digs and two solo blocks, while sophomore middle hitter Julie Hutchins (Bellingham, Mass.) notched seven kills, an ace and four solo blocks.  Senior middle hitter Michelle Atkins (Chelsea, Mass.) chipped in with eight kills and four blocks (three solo) and freshman outside hitter Sydney Bennett (North Attleboro, Mass.) added five kills, two aces and two solo blocks.

Panner posted 37 assists, four kills and an ace in Bridgewater's 3-0 triumph over Newbury.  Dean added nine assists and nine digs, while Atkins registered eight kills.  Robillard recorded 15 digs and Bennett notched four kills and three aces.  Junior outside hitter Rebecca Morse (Norton, Mass.) also chipped in with six kills.

Robillard finished with 56 digs and six aces in the three matches, while Panner notched 80 assists, three aces, 11 kills and a .321 hitting percentage.  Robillard has now produced 988 digs since arriving at Bridgewater State in 2011 after transferring from MCLA.

Next Saturday, the Bears travel to Colby-Sawyer College for a tri-match with host Colby-Sawyer and the University of New England.