FRANKLIN, Mass. – September 20, 2022 –The Dean College women's volleyball team was edged by Bridgewater State (BSU), 3-0, by scores of 25-17, 27-25 and 25-18 Tuesday evening inside Pieri Gymnasium.

Dean (2-9) will have a quick turnaround as the team welcomes Massachusetts Maritime to Franklin on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Bridgewater State (4-2) returns home on Thursday to host Gordon at 6 p.m.

Sophomore Emily Larouche (Agawam, Mass.) led the Bulldogs with eight kills. First-year Caitlin Cooper (Amherst, N.H.) finished with seven kills on .385 hitting and three blocks. Junior setter Bella Driscoll (Plymouth, Mass.) tallied 19 assists, a team best nine digs, two blocks and two aces.

The Bears hit .278 as a team and were led by freshman Meaghan Coutu (Brookline, N.H.). She hit .529 to finish with 11 kills. Senior Becca Whalen (Plymouth, Mass.) added nine kills on .400 hitting, while freshman Sarah Brogioli (Milford, Mass.) contributed eight kills.

The visitors took an 8-3 lead in the first and never looked back. Dean pulled within three at 12-9 after a Hope Laiter (Riverside, R.I.) ace, but a 5-1 run by the Bears put the margin at a comfortable distance. A Coutu kill ended the frame in favor of the Bears, 25-17. BSU hit .462 with 14 kills.

The second set was hard fought by both teams with 10 ties and three lead changes. Dean took a 22-17 lead with a Skylar Raskevitz (Easthampton, Mass.) ace. BSU responded with a 7-1 run to take a 24-23 advantage. The teams traded the next four points before another Coutu kill clinched the set for the Bears, 27-25.

The Bears carried the momentum to begin the third set with an 8-3 lead. Dean battled back with a 6-1 run to knot the score at 9-9. BSU held a slim 13-12 lead before a 7-1 spurt created separation en route to the 25-18 victory.