NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College women's volleyball team suffered a 3-1 defeat in its season opener against Salve Regina University on Tuesday night at Luce Field House.

Lucy Swanson (West Yarmouth, Mass.) recorded a match-high 23 kills to lead the Seahawks (3-1 overall). Brighton Solheim (Phoenix, Ariz.) added 11 kills and five service aces while Siena DeCicco (Severna Park, Md.) handed out 39 assists. 

Riley Lord (Exeter, N.H.) paced Conn (0-1 overall) with 14 kills while Zoe Watts (Chicago, Ill.) added 10, Rae Wartelle (Tacoma, Wash.) chipped in nine and Emma Wheeler (Meredith, N.H.) contributed seven. Natasha Shrivastava (San Diego, Calif.) paced the Camels with 22 assists while Olivia Dow (San Anselmo, Calif.) recorded 18.

The Camels trailed by as many as five in the opening set before rallying back. After a kill by Wartelle evened the score at 17-17, Salve Regina pushed the lead back to three at 23-20. Wheeler helped swing the momentum with a pair of kills and two blocks down the stretch, and a service ace by Caroline Festersen (Omaha, Neb.) wrapped up the set 26-24 in favor of Conn.

Swanson contributed seven kills as the Seahawks came firing back to take the second set by a 25-17 final. In the third, a 6-1 run gave the visitors a cushion midway through the set, and Salve Regina carried that edge to a 25-21 finish. 

The Camels hung tough in the fourth and final set but couldn't extend the match. With the score tied at 22-22, Solheim served for back-to-back aces, and Swanson's final kill of the night provided match point.

Conn (0-1 overall) will next play at Coast Guard Academy on Friday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m.