CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Bates College volleyball split its two matches on the first day of the MIT Invitational defeating Endicott College, 3-2, in its first match before falling to host MIT, 3-0, in its second contest at duPont Athletic Center on Friday night.

In their first match, the Bobcats (5-2) won the first two sets – 25-19, 25-17 – before dropping the next two frames – 17-25, 16-25 – and eventually winning the decisive set, 15-12, against the Gulls (3-6). In the night cap, the Engineers (6-4) downed Bates in straight sets – 25-16, 25-10, 25-13.

Against Endicott, junior setter Tess Walther (Santa Monica, Calif.) recorded a double-double with 16 assists and 11 digs in addition to six service aces while classmate and fellow setter Miranda Shapiro (New York, N.Y.) tallied a double-double of her own with 17 assists and 10 digs.

Five different Bobcats landed at least seven kills in a balanced offensive attack for the designated home team. First-year Chandler McGrath (Seal Beach, Calif.) led the way with nine kills to go with four block solos and two block assists. Fellow rookie Nicole Peraica (East Northport, N.Y.) registered seven kills on .364 hitting.

Defensively, sophomore Nicole Cueli (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) paced Bates with 15 digs while first-years Hannah Tardie (Orange, Calif.) and Gabby O'Leary (Wynewood, Pa.) tallied 10 and 11 digs respectively. O'Leary also chipped in with seven kills and three block assists.

Against MIT, Cueli posted a team-high 14 digs while Tardie contributed 13 digs. Walther dished out a team-high 11 assists, and sophomore Mary Deneen (Windsor, Conn.) landed a team-best six kills.

Bates continues play at the MIT Invitational on Saturday when the Bobcats play Wellesley at noon and Simmons at 4 p.m.