NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Bates volleyball team (6-10, 2-5) hung with Connecticut College (10-5, 2-4) for two sets but ended up getting swept Saturday afternoon at Luce Fieldhouse 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-9).

Chandler McGrath led the way for the Bobcats with nine kills and Jacqueline Forney contributed 12 assists in the match.

Bates junped out to a 4-1 edge in the first set. McGrath tallied back-to-back kills to start the match. After back-to-back service errors by Bates and Connecticut, McGrath picked up yet another kill to extend the lead. Connecticut went on a 3-0 run to tie the match at four. An attack error by Connecticut and a Lisa Slivken kill for Bates put the Bobcats up 6-4. 

A 7-0 Connecticut run put the Bobcats in a five-point hole. The Bobcats battled back to tie the set at 13. A 4-0 run included kills by McGrath and Reilly Murphy. Connecticut responded with a 4-0 run of their own to take the lead for good in the first set.

Once again the Bobcats got off to a strong start in the second set as they took a 3-0 lead. Mary Deneen and McGrath contributed kills as part of the run. Connecticut rallied to tie the set up at three. A McGrath kill put Bates back on top. The Bobcats would seemingly take control of the set after that as they went up by a score of 14-9 on a Connecticut attack error.

A 4-0 Connecticut run put them within one point. Bates went up 20-18 after a Connecticut service error but a 3-0 run by the home team caused the Bobcats to call timeout.

Down 21-20, the Bobcats surrendered another point before responding to pull within one at 22-21. They got no closer in the set as Connecticut scored three of the final four points to go up 2-0 in the match.

The Bobcats went up 4-3 in the final set but Connecticut dominated after that as they scored five unanswered points to take an 8-4 lead. Connecticut extended their lead to 12-7 and proceeded to go on a 9-0 run to take command.

Connecticut's Sam Hunter led all players with 11 kills in the match. Katia Elisman added a match-high 31 assists. Defensively, Laryssa Schepel led all players with 14 digs.

Bates hosts Hamilton on Friday, October 16 at 8:00 p.m. as they look to get back on the winning track.