WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State women's volleyball team opened the regular season at the Springfield Invitational Tournament with a split against Springfield College and Skidmore on Friday night from Springfield, Mass. The Owls fell to the Pride in straight sets (27-25, 25-18, 25-8) before sweeping the Thoroughbreds (25-22, 26-24, 26-24) in the second game.

Westfield got out to a fast start in the opening set of game two with Sarah Bingham (Reno, Nev.) capping off a six-point run with a service ace to put the Owls up 17-10. With Westfield at set point, Skidmore fought back with four consecutive points to trim the Owls lead to two. However, an attacking error by Skidmore secured a first set victory for Westfield. In set two, with the score tied at 24, an attacking error followed by a Julia Bartiet (Cheshire, Conn.) kill clinched a second set victory. In the final set, with Skidmore at set point, Westfield scored the next two points to steal the set and secure the sweep.

The Owls had a balanced attack in game two, with five players recording five or more kills. Shawna Crowley (Billerica, Mass.) led the way with seven, while Ashley Crowley (Billerica, Mass.) and Bridgette McAndrews (Longmeadow, Mass.) collected six kills apiece. Julia Dangel-Garcia (Ashland, Mass.) and Bingham each recorded double digit assists, and Allie Hill (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) led the Owls in digs with 23.

In game one against Springfield, it was Shawna Crowley who led the Owls in kills (6) with Ashley Crowley and McAndrews close behind with five each. Hill registered 16 digs and Dangel-Garcia supplied ten helpers. Riley Donahue racked up 15 kills and 12 digs for the Pride.

Westfield State (1-1) is back in action tomorrow at 1:00 P.M. against Rivier in the Springfield Invitational Tournament.