Jacqueline Forney (left) had 43 assists and 17 digs, while Chandler McGrath (center) had two double-doubles in Bates' losses to MIT and Cabrini College on Sept. 12, 2015. (File photo by Sarah Crosby/Bates College)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Bates College volleyball team didn't have any wins to show for it, but seemed to continue improving throughout its four-match venture at the MIT Invitational, dropping 3-1 decisions to the second- and third-place teams in the 12-team tournament, in host MIT and Cabrini College.

The Bobcats took on the host Engineers Saturday morning and won their first set of the season, taking the third set by three points in a 26-24, 25-12, 22-25, 25-9 setback to the 7-1 Engineers, who earned second place in the tournament.

Junior Chandler McGrath (Seal Beach, Calif.) had 12 kills and 11 digs against MIT, leading the Bobcats in the former category and placing second in the latter. Junior Nicole Peraica (East Northport, N.Y.) contributed eight kills and two blocks. Sophomore Jacqueline Forney (Bloomington, Ind.) numbered 15 assists and nine digs and sophomore Augy Silver (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) had a team-high 19 digs.

Bates finished the weekend with a 25-23, 16-25, 25-18, 25-13 loss to 6-3 Cabrini. Bates employed a three-headed attack in the match, as junior Gabby O'Leary (Wynnewood, Pa.) and first-year Claire Naughton (Darien, Conn.) had season highs in kills with 10 and eight, respectively. Meanwhile McGrath had a team-high 12 kills and added 14 digs for her first double-double this season. Silver had a career-high 33 digs and Forney posted 28 assists and eight digs.

The Bobcats play their first home match on Tuesday at 7pm against Southern Maine.