KEENE, N.H. – Junior outside hitter
Julia Stoliker (Red Hook, N.Y.) powered the Western Connecticut State University women's volleyball team's offense as it closed out its regular season with a dominant performance Friday night, sweeping host and Little East Conference rival Keene State 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-17), inside Spaulding Gym. Stoliker posted a match-high 14 kills along with three service aces.
Senior setter
Maggie Ferguson (Southbury, Conn.) anchored the Wolves' defense, finishing with a match-high 12 digs and six blocks, tying sophomore middle blocker
Ava Grace Gardner (New York, NY). Senior libero
Jersey Jones (Middletown, NY) added 10 digs and a match-best four service aces, while senior outside hitter
Sydney Slupatchuk (New Milford, Conn.) chipped in 10 kills.
The first set stayed close early, with WestConn holding a narrow 8-5 edge before pulling away for a comfortable 15-12 win. The Wolves controlled the second set from start to finish, never allowing the Owls to build momentum in a 25-15 decision. WestConn raced out to a 7-1 lead in the third, but Keene State mounted a brief comeback to close within 18-15 before the Wolves closed it out 25-17 to secure the sweep.
With the victory, WestConn closes out the regular season at 19-6 overall and 5-3 in conference play, securing the fifth seed in the Little East Conference standings. Keene State wraps up at 14-13 overall and 3-5 in the LEC, finishing sixth. The Wolves will now travel to Eastern Connecticut State University on Tuesday for the opening round of the LEC Tournament at 6 p.m.