NEWPORT, R.I. – The Connecticut College women's volleyball team opened the 2024 season with a 3-0 victory at Salve Regina University on Tuesday evening at the Rodgers Recreation Center.

The Camels won by set scores of 25-21, 25-23 and 25-18 behind a solid team effort. Katherine Randall (Chicago, Ill.) and Mila Chan (San Francisco, Calif.) paced the offense with seven kills apiece while Josie Kelly (Solana Beach, Calif.) handed out a match-high 23 assists in her collegiate debut. Randall led the defense with 17 digs while Rae Wartelle (Tacoma, Wash.) recorded three solo blocks and a block assist.

Kelly served the Camels out to a 5-0 lead in the opening set, and the visitors later took their biggest lead at 14-5 on a kill by Randall. The Seahawks made a late push to cut the deficit to 23-21, but Evie Lockwood Mullaney (Needham, Mass.) and Randall provided kills to secure the final two points.

Conn led early in the second set, but a 7-0 run gave the hosts their first lead of the night at 14-12. The Camels responded with four straight points to regain the lead, and the score stayed tight the rest of the way. Conn wrapped up the set by winning the final three points, with Randall and Chan each supplying a kill down the stretch.

Neither side led by more than three in the third set until Conn ripped off a 7-1 run to go ahead 20-12. Chan provided a pair of kills and a service ace during the spurt, and she later recorded her final kill of the night to set up match point.

The Camels hit .140 as a team and committed only 12 attack errors. Caroline Festersen (Omaha, Neb.) paced Conn with three aces and also added seven digs.  

Conn (1-0 overall) will next face SUNY Oneonta on Friday, September 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the Skidmore Classic.