Beverly, MA --- The WPI volleyball team opened the season with a 3-1 loss on the road at Endicott on Friday night. The Engineers won a marathon first set, 32-30, but dropped the remaining three, 25-16, 28-26, and 25-19.
 
For WPI, Zeala VanDamme (San Diego, CA) led the offense with 11 kills, adding four blocks, while Fiona Gillis (Manchester, NH) had 11 kills and nine digs. Audrey Stroupe (Leesburg, VA) notched eight kills, while Lily Eldridge (Danvers, MA) racked up 38 assists with six kills, 11 digs, and four blocks.
 
Preslie Jerebker (Denver, CO) led the WPI defense with 16 digs in her collegiate debut while Victoria Escuer (Caracas, Venezuela) chipped in with 13.
 
Endicott was led by a monster performance from Hadley Helenbrook (Atlanta, GA) who racked up 26 kills and added 12 digs. Annie Draper (North Kingston, RI) and Stephanie Moreau (Methuen, MA) contributed 10 and eight kills respectively, while Hannah Maguire (San Jose, CA) notched 54 assists.
 
WPI grabbed the opener 32-30, hitting .225 in the frame. Endicott started on a 6-2 run, but the Engineers battled back to tie at 12-12. Neither team went up by more than three the rest of the set, which featured 14 ties. Down the stretch, the Gulls spoiled five WPI set points before a block from Hudson and Eldridge and an Endicott hitting error put the Engineers up 1-0.
 
Endicott tied the match at 1-1 with a 25-16 win in the second set, as WPI's offense was held to a .125 attack. The Engineers led 10-8, but a 12-3 run from the hosts put the set out of reach for WPI.
 
The Gulls then made it 2-1 by nipping the Engineers 28-26 in another tight frame in the third. Trailing 18-10, WPI rallied to tie the set with a 12-4 run. After 22-22, the frame was tied four more times before Endicott got back-to-back Helenbrook kills to win it in extra points.
 
In the fourth set, WPI's offense hit .368 but couldn't contend with Endicott's .480 clip, as the Gulls finished out the 3-1 with a 25-19 score. The Engineers held a very early advantage, but Endicott broke a 4-4 tie and held a slim lead the rest of the way.
 
WPI will host Nichols in its home opener tomorrow at noon, while Endicott has a pair of matches at Brandeis tomorrow, taking on Ursinus and Regis.