NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University women's volleyball team kicked off Homecoming Weekend athletic festivities at Andrews Hall on Friday afternoon, falling in a competitive 3-0 decision (13-25, 16-25, 16-25) to visiting New England College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.

Despite early leads and promising scoring stretched, the Cadets could not maintain momentum against a persistent Pilgrims squad.  Isabella Vasapolli (Pepperell, Mass.) led Norwich with six kills, while Bella Belldina Ray (Martinsburg, W.Va.) added five.  Autumn Parkhurst (Parish, N.Y.) finished just shy of a double-double with eight assists and 11 digs, while Grace Davie (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Charlotte Johnson (Moultonborough, N.H.) each notched a service ace.

The opening set featured a back-and-forth rhythm early on, as neither side led by more than two points.  A kill from Davie brought the teams even at 11-11, but the Pilgrims seized control with an 11-0 run that shifted the match's tone.  Norwich tallied two late points on New England College errors, but the visitors secured the opening set.

Norwich flipped the script early in the second, building a 4-1 lead behind three Pilgrim miscues and a Johnson kill off a feed from Sarah DeBot (Rochester, N.Y.).  After taking a 6-4 advantage, however, the Cadets were undone by another extended New England College surge, falling behind 21-11.  Ray's kill sparked a brief 4-1 push for Norwich, but the Pilgrims closed out the frame to go up 2-0.

The third set followed a similar arc.  Norwich started strong, jumping ahead 8-3 with energy from the home crowd.  But New England College stormed back once again, eventually flipping the momentum with a 12-point run.  The Cadets pieced together a 5-1 stretch to chip away late, but a final Pilgrims kill sealed the match.

The Cadets remain home on Wednesday, Sept. 24, stepping back out of conference to host Plattsburgh State University for a 6:00 p.m. clash.  Norwich then hits the road for a GNAC tri-match on Saturday, Sept. 27, traveling to Regis College to face the host Pride and the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.).