BOSTON -- The Bates volleyball team dropped back-to-back matches against Salve Regina University and UMass-Boston on Saturday in Clark Athletic Center, falling 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 16-25, 25-16) to the Seahawks and 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-18) to the host Beacons to conclude the weekend Babson Invitational Tournament despite strong play from both veterans and recent newcomers to the team.

The Bobcats (1-3) return to action on Friday at 7pm in their NESCAC opener at Amherst College.

Recap: Salve Regina 3, Bates 1 (BOX SCORE)

Nicole Karabaich and Madison Lee tallied 14 and 13 kills, respectively, to pace the Seahawks (2-2) in the win.

Bates senior Sydney Phillips (Plainville, Mass.) put down 14 kills against three errors on 32 attempts (.344) and added four blocks against Salve Regina, while first-year Julia Neumann (Norwell, Mass.) posted five blocks. Junior setter Emma Eide (Ramsey, N.J.) converted seven kills on 22 attacks while handing out 26 assists and leading the Bobcats with four service aces. 

Senior Megan Seabury (Santa Barbara, Calif.) tied for the match high with 23 digs while first-year Alyssa Lowther (Wyckoff, N.J.) added 13 digs and six kills.

Recap: UMass-Boston 3, Bates 0 (BOX SCORE)

Bates played a very strong second set against UMass-Boston (3-4), hitting at a .345 rate with 13 kills on 29 attempts, but the Beacons also turned up their efficiency to a match-best .400 during the frame and edged the Bobcats by a 26-24 score before going on to seal the win in straight sets.

Emilia Capiewska and Marcelle Tiscareno were tough attackers to contend with. Czapiewska put down 10 kills on 21 attempts (.429) and Tiscareno was even more efficient with eight kills on 15 attempts (.467). Carsen Komminsk totaled 28 assists and six aces.

Lowther came up big in her second match of the day, with a team-high 14 kills on 32 attempts (.219), as well as seven digs, and she was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Phillips added seven kills as Eide tallied 25 assists. Seabury again led Bates in digs (9).