HARTFORD, Conn. --  The hard-serving Western New England University women's volleyball team kept Eastern Connecticut State University on its heels  all evening and went on to a 25-17, 25-8, 25-11 non-conference victory in the opening match of the Trinity College Invitational at Ray Oosting Gymnasium Friday evening.

A loser of two straight since a three-match winning streak, Eastern (4-3) was swept for the first time this year after losing to Western New England (7-2) for the second straight time. The Golden Bears are the two-time defending ECAC New England Division III Tournament champion.

Western New England used strong serving to move out to early, insurmountable leads in each set Friday night. The Warriors made a modest comeback in the first set, then gave up the first five points of the second set and six of the first seven of the third set. In the second set, senior Kendra Ouimette collected three service aces that helped stake the Golden Bears to a quick 5-0 lead. Down 12-2 in the third set, the Warriors never made a bid.

Eastern brought a .912 reception percentage into the match but commited ten reception errors for an .846 percentage.

Sophomore middle hitter Kay Mullen (Fairhaven, MA) led Eastern with five kills. Sophomore Adrianna Mihalek (Woodbury), who averaged ten attack attempts per set this season, averaged only five  per set Friday, finishing with four kills.

Senior Allie Henry (Middletown) picked up 11 assists, junior Allie Luppi  (Tewksbury, MA) 12 digs and sophomore Amanda Tyler (Longmeadow, MA) nine digs.  Six-foot freshman Caryn Sibiskie (Rockfall) had three blocks.

Saturday, Eastern faces Brandeis University at 11 a.m. and Westfield State University at 3 p.m.

Western New England U. 3, Eastern Conn. 0

Western NE (7-2)                      25        25        25

Eastern Conn. (4-3)                  17          8        11