NEW LONDON, Conn. – Entering the day with a record of 13-7 and just seven regular season games remaining, the Coast Guard Bears needed wins—and they delivered. They secured a hard-fought victory against Emerson before sweeping Nichols in their second match.
The first game did not start well for the Bears, as Emerson took the opening set decisively, 25-6. However, Coast Guard quickly rebounded, claiming set two 25-15, fueled by five kills from senior Shannon Shaw.
The third and fourth sets alternated in favor of each team, with Coast Guard winning set three 25-14 and Emerson taking set four 25-23. This left everything riding on a tense fifth set.
Late in set five, the Bears held a slim 12-10 lead but managed to clinch the match by scoring the next three points. The game-winning run began with a kill from sophomore Samantha Ventimiglia, followed by two consecutive attack errors from Emerson, concluding the set 15-10 in favor of Coast Guard.
Freshman Amelia Matson led the Bears with 16 kills, followed by Shaw who had 12. Junior Sarah Somer also contributed a team-high five blocks, while France recorded a remarkable 30 digs.
With this loss, Emerson's record dropped to 10-11. The Lions' next match is a home contest against Smith College on Tuesday at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gym.
The second match of the day proved to be far less stressful for the Bears, who swept Nichols in three sets. Although the Bison gained momentum as the match progressed, the Bears consistently responded.
Coast Guard dominated set one, winning 25-11, largely thanks to the standout combination of Matson and sophomore Sophia Rosenburg. At one point, Matson delivered three kills in a span of just four points, with Rosenburg assisting on each, helping the Bears establish a 6-0 run that Nichols could not overcome.
Set two was closer, with Coast Guard taking it 25-16. However, the Bison continued to battle, setting up a competitive finish in set three. With the score at 24-23 in favor of the Bears late in set three, Rosenburg found senior Carlee Linglee, who delivered a powerful kill to secure the set at 25-23.
With this win, Coast Guard improved to 15-7, while Nichols fell to 4-16. Next up for the Bears is a road match against Salve Regina on Tuesday, with first serve scheduled for 7:00 p.m. as they aim for their fourth consecutive victory.
