By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- For the first time in nine years, the Bridgewater State University volleyball team is on a five-match winning streak.

The Bears reached the .500 mark on Wednesday night with a 3-0 non-conference victory over Lesley University at the Tinsley Center.

It is the first time BSU has won five in a row since going on an eight-match winning streak from Sept. 17 - Oct. 2, 2015.

The Bears (6-6) had dropped six in a row before starting their current streak on Sept. 18. They are now 5-0 against Lesley in a series that began in 2019.

BSU took care of the Lynx (0-9) by scores of 25-8, 25-4 and 25-8. It is the Bears' fourth 3-0 victory in the winning streak.

Graduate student Bethany Votta (Cumberland, R.I.) recorded a season-high 27 assists and added six digs for BSU. Votta now has 953 assists in her career.

Freshman Charlotte Sullivan (Hyannis, Mass.) chipped in with nine kills while sophomores Lily Welch (Hanson, Mass.) and Alexis Starks (Milford, Mass.) had seven kills apiece. For Starks, the seven kills marked a career-high.

Freshman Layna Ross (New Bedford, Mass.) had a season-high six kills while freshman Gracey Gorman (Weymouth, Mass.) had a season-best seven digs.

Freshman Korinne Hall-Johnson (North Brunswick, N.J.) had nine digs for Lesley.

The Bears took a 15-5 lead in the opening set with Sullivan getting five kills. BSU outscored the Lynx, 10-3, the rest of the way.

In the second set, the Bears opened with a 13-1 advantage as Welch had four kills. BSU went on a 9-0 run after Lesley scored a point with Welch getting three kills.

The Bears began the third set with a 12-4 edge as senior Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.) had three kills. BSU later scored six straight points for an 18-5 lead.

The set and match ended with Gowell getting two kills and Gorman adding one.

Bridgewater finished with 41 kills and a .500 hitting percentage to go along with ten aces. Junior Sarah Brogioli (Milford, Mass.) led all players with three aces while Gorman and sophomore Lilly Misay (New Bedford, Mass.) added two apiece.

The Bears will seek to improve on their 1-0 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference record when they host Salem State University Saturday at noon.

Lesley hosts Thomas College on Friday at 7 p.m.