NEWPORT, R.I. – Wellesley College volleyball started NEWMAC competition with a 3-1 (14-25, 25-18, 25-20, 26-24) loss on the road against Salve Regina University at Rodgers Recreation Center.

Salve Regina (4-7 Overall, 1-0 NEWMAC) sophomore Lily Dobbins (Richmond, Ky.) led all competitors with 21 digs. Senior Siena DeCicco (Severna Park, Md.) put up 27 assists while junior Lauren Hoyle (Albany, N.Y.) had 11 kills and a .308 hitting percentage.

The Blue (5-2 Overall, 0-1 NEWMAC) were led by 20 kills and 13 digs from sophomore Kate Giang (Corte Madera, Calif.). Junior Kaija Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) had 16 digs and first year Else Kunze-Hoeg (Eagan, Minn.) had an 11 assist, 11 dig double-double. Sophomore Noelle Winn (San Francisco, Calif.) paced Wellesley with 19 assists.

After leading 9-7 in the opening stanza, Wellesley rattled off six straight points. The Blue pushed the pressure throughout the 25-14 set, with 11 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. 

Salve Regina stormed out to an early 6-2 lead in the second. After going up 10-7, the Seahawks put up four consecutive points. Wellesley couldn't get back within four, falling 25-18 in the frame.

Nine kills and a .167 hitting percentage was enough to give Salve Regina a 25-20 third set to go up 2-1. Both teams were knotted up at 5-5 when the Seahawks used a blend of kills and Wellesley errors to win 10 out of 12 points. The Blue countered with a pair of 4-0 runs to regain the lead at 18-17. A seven point Salve Regina stretch put Wellesley on the back foot and the Seahawks finished off a 25-20 set with a kill from Hoyle.

After trailing 17-10 in the fourth frame, the Blue clawed back to go up 19-18. From there the teams traded points until Salve Regina went up 24-22. Wellesley saved two match points but ultimately couldn't hang on and lost 26-24.

Wellesley has another NEWMAC road match versus Wheaton at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 28. Salve Regina hosts Mount Holyoke at 1:00 PM that same day.