Springfield, Mass. — September 4, 2026 — The Springfield College women's volleyball team started off the season with a win over Westfield State, sweeping the Owls 3-0 by sets of 25-6, 25-22 and 25-19 in the first day of the 2026 Joel B. Dearing '97 Volleyball Classic. 

The Pride begin the season 1-0 while the Owls drop to 0-2 overall. 

Jodi Saelua (Mililani, Hawaii) led the effort with 12 errorless kills on a .632 hitting percentage while also notching two blocks. Zakiya Hiatt (Calgary, AB) had 11 kills with four aces and five digs and Tori Colosimo (Fairport, N.Y.) had 34 assists, five digs and two aces. 

Springfield rolled the Owls in the first set hitting .483 percent as a team, defeating Westfield State 25-6. The Pride started off the set with a 6-1 run highlighted by two kills from Alexa Bonato (Orange, Conn.) before the Owls tacked on two more points. Springfield then went on to outscore Westfield State 19-5 as the Pride dominated the set. 

Westfield State came out to a quick lead before both teams exchanged points before Springfield went on a 7-2 run to tie it at 13 as a service ace by Hiatt capped the run. The Owls then went on to score four straight points to take a 20-17 lead. The Pride went on to battle as a kill from Hiatt sparked seven consecutive points to give the Pride the comeback win as an ace from Gabbie Weissgarber (Colorado Springs, Colo.) sealed it for Springfield, 25-22. 

The Owls jumped out to 6-3 lead before two straight aces from Hiatt tied it at six. After a back-and-forth set, the Pride went on three separate spurts to gain the lead, highlighted by late game errors from Westfield and kills from Saelua and Hiatt as Springfield won the set 25-19. 

Springfield will play Keene State at 10:30 am and Skidmore at 1:30 pm in Blake Arena in the final day of the Dearing Classic. 

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