MIDDLETOWN, Conn. –   A fantastic Westfield State volleyball season came to a close on Thursday afternoon, as the Owls fell to national #8 New York University in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, falling 25-8, 25-18, and 25-17 at the Silloway Gymnasium at Wesleyan University.

After being overpowered in the first set as NYU scored the first seven points before winning the set 25-8, the Owls regrouped after changing sides.

In the second set, Westfield jumped out to a 2-0 lead with kills from Shawna Crowley and Sarah Bingham.  The set featured seven ties and three lead changes as the two teams largely traded points until the Owls trimmed the NYU lead to 17-16 and forced a timeout from the Violets bench.

Westfield tied the match at 17 on a kill from Bingham as she stuffed back a lazy ball over the net, and an NYU service error gave Westfield a late lead at 18-17.

But from there, NYU rallied with kills from Ava Launsbach and Gabriella Spaethling forcing Owls head coach Fred Glanville to call a timeout of his own down 20-18.  The time out couldn't stop the tides, and NY closed out the set by winning the final five points.

In the third, Westfield fell behind 17-9, but the Owls rallied with three straight points, first on a block from Julia Bartiet, then an NYU attack error, and then a kill from Westfield's Bridgette McAndrews trimmed the lead back to 17-12.

Down 21-13, Bingham got a tip kill, then the Owls won another point on a McAndrews ace to make it 21-15.

Bingham had a block to trim it to 22-16, and the Owls capped their scoring with a kill from Ashley Crowley to make it 24-17 before NYU finally closed out the match.

McAndrews and Shawna Crowley led Westfield with five kills each.  Bingham added four and Ashley Crowleythree.  Julia Dangel-Garcia dished out eight assists and Morgan Dority added three.   Allie Hill led Westfield with 13 digs.

The Owls close their season at 13-12 overall, while NYU advances to tomorrow's second round.

The Violets (26-6) were led by 13 kills from Olivia Lewandowski, and 11 from Spaethling as NYU took advantage of their overall height, with six players checking in at six-feet or taller.  Launsbach finished with 29 assists.