Keene, NH --- The WPI Volleyball team picked up a split on Saturday at the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center on the campus of Western New England. The Engineers opened the day with a 3-1 victory over the hosts, using set scores of 25-23, 25-20, 21-25, and 25-13, before dropping a five-set match against Keene State, 3-2 (25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 12-25, 15-9).
 
Match 1: WPI 3, Western New England 1
Julia Colantuoni (Amherst, NH) tallied a team-high 12 kills while Zeala VanDamme (San Diego, CA) added 11 kills on a .579 hitting percentage and five total blocks to pace WPI in the four-set win over Western New England.
 
The Engineers edged a tight opening frame, 25-23, then hit .351 in the second to build a two-set lead. Western New England responded in the third, taking it 25-21, but WPI regrouped and closed out the match in convincing fashion, 25-13.
 
After Colantuoni and VanDamme, Anastasia Kelnik (Fair Lawn, NJ) chipped in eight kills, and Olivia Hutchinson (Erie, PA) supplied five kills and a team-best three aces. Preslie Jerebker (Denver, CO) handed out 20 assists, and Lauren Boycourt (San Diego, CA) contributed 13. Alana Harris (Lowell, MA) anchored the defense with 19 digs, joined in double figures by Victoria Escuer (Caracas, Venezuela) with 10, while Jerebker added nine.
 
Western New England was led by Rachel Critz (Kingston, MA), who produced 13 kills and four blocks. Charlei Henkel (Centerton, AR) added 11 kills and 14 digs, while Léa Barber (Bethany, CT) registered seven kills and 12 digs. Setters Deana Baez (Providence, RI) and Madison Stauss (Wallkill, NY) distributed 15 assists apiece, and Evelyn Taylor (Reading, MA) led all Golden Bears with 15 digs.
 
Match 2: Keene State 3, WPI 2
Bridget Spees (Saint Johns, FL) tallied a team-best 14 kills and 20 digs, while Kelnik added 11 kills as WPI pushed Keene State to five sets in the Engineers' final match of the day.
 
Keene State claimed the first two frames, 25-19 and 25-18, before WPI answered with a 25-21 win in the third and a 25-12 victory in the fourth, hitting .265 in that set. The Owls pulled away late to secure the match, 15-9, behind a .233 hitting clip compared to WPI's -.067.
 
Spees led the Engineers with 14 kills, while Kelnik added 11. Hutchinson and Kylie Welcher (Los Angeles, CA) chipped in six kills apiece. Jerebker and Boycourt handed out 12 assists each, with Harris and Escuer topping the defense at 19 and 20 digs, respectively, while Spees and Jerebker each added 12 digs. At the net, Amelia Lynch (Charlottesville, VA) and VanDamme both notched six blocks.
 
Keene State was powered by Gigi Stake (Bedford, NH) with 14 kills and Marina Miller (Pleasant Hill, CA) with 13. Katie Taylor (Marlborough, MA) and Sarah Bartels (Fort Collins, CO) registered seven kills apiece, while Ava Harkins (West Bridgewater, MA) dished out 23 assists and Alexis Small (Londonderry, NH) added 16. Defensively, Stake collected a match-high 29 digs, joined by Delia Ryan (Rockville Centre, NY) with 25, Miller with 21, and Small with 11. Annaliese Rudberg (Cape Elizabeth, ME) led the Owls' front line with five blocks.
 
WPI returns home on Tuesday for a 7pm matchup with cross-town rival Worcester State. Western New England visits Westfield State on Wednesday, September 17 at 6pm, while Keene State hosts Rivier the same evening at 6pm.