Lewiston, Maine – The visiting Trinity College Bantams recovered from a 25-18 loss in the opening set to take a 3-1 victory over the Bates College Bobcats in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) volleyball action this evening at Alumni Gymnasium.  Trinity took the second set, 25-20, and won the third and fourth sets by double-digit margins.  Trinity improves to 13-7 overall and 4-3 in the NESCAC, while Bates falls to 9-14 overall and 1-6 in the conference.  

"We made the right adjustments and got better and better as the match went on," said Trinity Head Coach Jen Bowman.  "We stayed composed and followed the game plan, which was nice to see."

Sophomore MH Kate Giddens (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) approached a triple-double for the visitors recording 12 kills and 10 digs in addition to seven aces on the strength of an effective jump serve. Senior tri-captain OH Hannah Brickley (Melrose, Mass.) led all players with 20 kills in the match to go with 14 digs. Also for Trinity, senior tri-captain S Amy Hackett (Wallingford, Conn.) posted a double-double on 24 assists and 15 digs, and sophomore S Gina Buzzelli (Cheshire, Conn.) had 14 assists.  First-year Chandler McGrath (Seal Beach, Calif.) paced the Bobcats with 11 digs while sophomore Brynn Wendel (Boxford, Mass.) followed with eight kills on .368 hitting. 

Bates used a 7-2 run to gain an early lead in the match.  The Bantams countered in set two, using an 8-0 streak midway through the set to stake an 18-8 edge riding the serve of first-year L Kristen Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.). Trinity followed a similar pattern in the third set, capturing an 18-10 advantage in the middle of the set and not allowing the hosts to pull any closer than seven points. Set four featured Giddens' jump serve as she served on 12 consecutive points helping the Bantams build a 16-2 lead they would not reliquish.