LEWISTON, Maine – Junior Brynn Wendel landed a match-high 10 kills to propel Bates College volleyball past Saint Joseph's College of Maine, 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-7), on Thursday night at Alumni Gym.

In their home opener, the Bobcats (6-5) totaled 24 aces as a team, recorded a .321 hitting percentage in the first set, and hit .294 in set three to beat the Monks (4-9) for the third time this season. Bates topped St. Joseph's 3-1 on Sept. 5 and 3-0 on Sept. 6 at the SJC Autumn Invitational.

Senior Tess Walther (No. 2) recorded 12 of Bates' 24 service aces in Bates' 3-0 win over St. Joseph's. (Photo by Sarah Crosby/Bates College)

Senior captain Tess Walther (Santa Monica, Calif.) led the hosts with 12 service aces and 14 assists while junior Nicole Cueli (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) tallied a match-best nine digs.

On the attack, Wendel (Boxford, Mass.) hit .444 in the match. Sophomores Chandler McGrath (Seal Beach, Calif.) and Nicole Peraica (East Northport, N.Y.) each chipped in five kills with McGrath adding six aces.

For St. Joseph's, sophomore Shaddai Gosselin (Somersworth, N.H.) registered a team-best eight digs, and junior Abbie McPhee (Epping, N.H.) notched six assists.

The Bobcats jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first set and increased their advantage to 13 points at 19-6. Bates won five of the last six points to take the first set, 25-11.

The Monks rallied in set two, remaining within two points at 9-11 after the Bobcats opened the set with a 7-0 lead off Walther's service. Bates held a four-point edge at 16-12 before closing the set on a 9-1 run, largely behind the serve of Walther for the 25-13 victory.

In set three, Bates closed the frame on a 14-0 run after the Monks pulled within 11-7. Walther posted seven aces during the streak to give the Bobcats a 25-7 win in the final stanza.

Next, Bates plays Western Connecticut State and Southern Maine on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. while St. Joseph's plays Suffolk and Albertus Magnus on Saturday.