PAXTON, Mass. – October 26, 2022 – The Dean College women's volleyball team earned a 3-1 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory at Anna Maria on Wednesday evening. The Bulldogs won by scores of 25-19, 19-25, 25-23 and 25-19.

Dean (6-21, 3-8 GNAC) concludes the regular season on Saturday with a GNAC tri-match hosted by Lasell with Rivier. Anna Maria (3-18, 0-11 GNAC) travels to Norwich for a tri-match with the Cadets and Regis on Saturday.  

Senior Sari Albury (Nassau, Bahamas) led the Bulldogs with 13 kills and six blocks for the third time this season. Sophomore Janai Price (Providence, R.I.) recorded nine kills, while first-year Caitlin Cooper (Amherst, N.H.) hit .353 for eight kills. Price and Cooper each added three blocks apiece. Junior Bella Driscoll (Plymouth, Mass.) registered 27 assists, while senior Mandi Payne (Millis, Mass.) picked up a team best 12 digs.

Bella Kozciak had 13 kills and 10 digs to lead the AMCATS. Serena Dennis collected a match best 26 digs.

The Bulldogs started the first set in strong fashion by taking a 15-7 lead with efficient attacking. A kill by Albury later gave Dean a 20-13 lead. The teams traded the next few points, but a Cooper kill and an Anna Maria error clinched the 25-19 win for the Bulldogs. Dean hit .290 and recorded 13 kills in the frame.

The second set was a mirror of the first as the AMCATS raced out to a 9-2 lead. Anna Maria later led by a 20-13 margin. Dean tried to battle back but a Kozciak kill ended the threat to give the home team a 25-19 second set win and even the match at 1-1.

The Bulldogs went in front 12-5 to begin the third, before Anna Maria used a 10-2 run to take a one-point lead. The set would be tied a few more times including at 20-20. After a 4-1 run by the AMCATS, Dean rattled off four points in a row including an Emily Ball (Feeding Hills, Mass.) ace and a Cooper kill to take set three 25-23.

The fourth set was tight throughout until the Bulldogs were able to pull away late. Dean held a slim 18-17 lead before scoring three points in a row to create some separation. The AMCATS pulled within 21-19, but Dean secured the set and match by scoring the next four points. Price and Albury had kills and a combined block in the final run.