WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Eastern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team attacked at .381 and commited only two reception errors in sweeping Lesley College and Dean College in its 2017 home debut Saturday afternoon at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.

Senior Carly Balskus (Hebron) and freshman Alaetra Long (Lincoln, NE) combined for 22 kills, junior Leah Sopneski (Deep River) had 17 assists Long and senior libero Michelle Valliere (Lebanon) combined for 21 digs in a 25-17, 25-16, 25-8 win over Lesley (0-1).

Against Dean College (1-1) – in its second season as a four-year institution -- freshman Abby Stern (Manchester) had eight kills and a .727 attack percentage and eight players contributed at least one service ace to the team's total of  23 in a 25-6, 25-6, 25-7 victory.

Against Dean, Long contributed eight kills and a .333 attack percentage and Balskus added six kills and a .250 attack percentage. Stern and sophomore Natalia Rickey (Plainfield) each had five service aces and Valliere four. Stern led both teams with seven digs.

On the day, Eastern attacked at .381, compiled 34 service aces and averaged 10.50 digs with a .965 reception percentage. Balskus and Long led the way with 18 kills each, Balskus attacking at .400. Stern added 16 kills with a .577 attack percentage and topped the team with ten service aces. Long (16), Stern (14) and Valliere (14) combined for 44 of the team's 63 digs.  Valliere commited only one error on 27 reception attempts and Stern was perfect on 18. Sopneski led all Eastern players with 23 assists, sophomore Mckenzie Maneggia (Andover) chipping in 15 and senior Amanda Tourjee (Waterford) 14.

Eastern, which has won all nine sets in three wins this year, visits Eastern Nazarene College Tuesday at  7 p.m.