Box Score
FRANKLIN, Mass. – To gauge the possible improvement of the 2024 Eastern Connecticut State University women's volleyball team from a year ago, one might look no further than Wednesday night's three-set sweep of Dean College at Pieri Gymnasium.
 
A year ago, the Warriors  attacked at just .027 and committed ten reception errors in a surprising four-set loss  to a Dean team which went on to a final record of 9-22. That loss triggered an Eastern collapse over the final three weeks of the season in which it dropped eight of its last nine, with seven of those setbacks (including the final four) coming in straight sets and helped produce a final record under .500.
 
Wednesday, Eastern (6-4) attacked at a season-high.300, committed only two reception errors (its lowest total since opening day), and collected 11 service aces (equalling its second-most this year) in sweeping the Bulldogs (4-7) by scores of 25-14, 28-26, 25-12. The victory evened the Warriors' record away from Geissler Gymnasium at 4-4 and gives them their second three-set sweep in their last two matches.
 
Against Dean, Eastern breezed in the first and third sets, and survived the second set that went into 'extra time' -- that win pushing them over the .500 mark to 3-2 in sets decided by two points this year.
 
In a second set which featured 13 ties where neither team led by more than three points, first-year outside Emma Robinson (Westlake Village, CA) had seven kills without an error and senior Bella Johnson (Marlborough) four kills and junior Liz Squier (Trevor, WI) eight assists. In that set, the Warriors scored five straight points to erase a 20-18 lead and never trailed again. With the score tied at 26 and the hosts serving, Robinson connected for kills on passes from Squier to close out the win and give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
 
In the match, Robinson had 11 kills with a .409 attack percentage, served six aces and dug up seven balls. Johnson and sophomore Haley Jo Bridges (Montebello, NY) each added six kills, with Bridges attacking at .364. Squier had 21 assists, first-year libero Emerson Conigliaro (Wake Forest, NC) 13 digs and no errors on 17 reception attempts, while sophomore Brooke Praskievicz (Moodus) handled 11 receptions without an error.
 
Eastern opens its Little East Conference season Saturday by hosting the University of Southern Maine (3-9, 0-0 LEC) at noon and also hosts SUNY Maritime College in a non-conference match at 4 p.m. The Huskies are 0-5 away from Hill Gymnasium while Eastern is 2-0 at home.