LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates and Bowdoin renewed its legendary NESCAC rivalry as the in-state foes opened their respective conference slates Friday night in Alumni Gym.

The Polar Bears would come out on top in this one as the visitors from nearby Brunswick bested the Bobcats by a score of 3-1. Bowdoin and the Bobcats split the first two sets by scores of 25-19 and 25-21, respectively, before the Polar Bears swept the next two stanzas with identical 25-17 showings to clinch the win and improve to 4-1 (1-0 NESCAC) on the young season.

Skye LaMendola recorded a double-double in the Bowdoin road win, flooring a team-high 12 kills to go along with 11 digs. Cameron Shelly also authored a double-double by drilling 10 kills (.444 hitting percentage) and dishing 12 assists on the night.  Ella Haugen, in just two sets played for the victors, distributed 23 helpers. Maya White settled a match-high 19 digs at libero for Bowdoin.

Despite the result, Chrissy Chu enjoyed a career night for the garnet and white as the junior collected career-bests with 33 assists and 12 digs, providing the junior her first collegiate double-double. Ami Evans contributed her third-career (first of season) double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs for the Bobcats.

First-year Sofia Castiglioni reached double-digits for the first time this season with 10 kills. Ellie Asada matched Evans with 14 digs on the night.

Bates (1-4, 0-1 NESCAC) gets right back at it Saturday afternoon when they host Connecticut College at 12:00 p.m. in a second-straight NESCAC match.