Harford, Conn. – Junior co-captains Hunter Drews (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and Kate Giddens (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.) totaled nine aces and 29 kills, respectively, to lead the Trinity College Bantams to 3-0 victories over the Westfield State University Owls and the Brandeis University Judges on the first day of the Trinity College Volleyball Invitational this evening at Oosting Gymnasium.  Trinity, ranked No. 7 in New England, improves to 5-1, while the Owls fall to 2-7 and the Judges drop to 1-6.  Western New England, ranked No. 10 in New England, improved to 7-2 with its fourth win in a row, 3-0, against the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors in the other invitational match tonight at Trinity.  The Warriors fall to 4-3.  Tournament play continues to tomorrow with six matches beginning at 11 a.m.

Trinity outdueled Westfield State, 25-21, in the first set, before taking control and winning easily in set two, 25-15, and three, 25-9.  Giddens had 12 kills and nine digs, while Drews notched nine kills, five aces, and eight digs against the Owls.  The Bantams won three similar sets against Brandeis, 25-18, 25-19, and 25-20, as Giddens made 17 kills to go with two blocks and Drews contributed seven kills and four aces.  Trinity trailed, 7-6, early in the third set against Brandeis but used a 7-2 run to pull ahead, 15-10, and led by at least three points the rest of the way. 

Sophomore S Randi Whitham (South Weymouth, Mass.) recorded 31 assists in the two matches for Trinity, while classmate Kristen Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) added 32 digs.  Shannon Shea (Chelmsford, Mass.) paced Westfield State with 17 digs and Maddie Engeler (Sandusky, Ohio) had seven kills and five blocks for the Judges.  Western New England won handily, 25-17, 25-8, 25-11, as Jenna Leuck (Dumont, N.J.) registered 12 kills and 15 assists and Kendra Ouimette (Conway, Mass.) added 13 digs and seven aces.  Warrior junior Allie Luppi (Tewksbury, Mass.) had 12 digs in a losing effort.