Springfield, Mass. - October 15, 2021 - The Springfield College women's volleyball team posted a three-set sweep over visiting Bates in Blake Arena on Friday as the Pride earned the non-conference win by the scores of 25-17, 25-15, 25-19. 

Winners of its last six matches, the Pride boosted its record to 17-4 on the year, while Bates dropped to 5-11. 

Natalie Billet (Commack, N.Y.) led all players with 12 kill and added seven digs and four blocks, while classmate Jamie Albrecht (Selden, N.Y.) continued to impress on the right side with nine kills, six aces, and 10 digs.  Hailey Deguire (Schenectady, N.Y.) produced a match-high 16 digs and Kylie Wixted (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) totaled nine blocks, marking the third-highest total for blocks in a Division III three-set match this season.  

In the first set, Billet found the back line in transition to cap off a 7-2 run as the Pride opened up a 17-12 lead.  After Bates called for a timeout and pulled within 21-17, Springfield scored the final four points of the frame, with Albrecht burying her fifth kill of the set to compete the 25-17 win. 

Wixted delivered a stuff block at 9-4 in the second to finish off a five-point burst for the Pride, and despite the visitors pulling within 17-14 on an ace, the Pride closed out the stanza on a 8-1 push as Billet's service winner gave the Pride a 25-15 win.  Wixted had five blocks in the set to key a Springfield defense that forced Bates into 11 attack errors and a -.156 hitting percentage. 

Albrect started out the third set with back-to-back aces to give the Pride an early edge, but Bates would hang tough and hold a 17-15 following a Springfield timeout.  However, the momentum swung in favor of Springfield following a rally that lasted over 90 seconds and had the ball cross the net 23 times, as Billet converted a kill to tie things up at 17.  The first-year then took over the match, as she had five kills down the stretch to conclude the 25-19 victory. 

Springfield will play its final home match of the regular season on Tuesday when it hosts Coast Guard at 7 pm.

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