LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College women's volleyball, sporting a revamped roster consisting of seven first-year players, made its 2024 debut Wednesday night in Alumni Gym as the Bobcats coasted to a 3-0 win vs. Husson University.

The garnet and white sent off the Eagles by scores of 25-12, 25-12, and 25-14 to seal the shutout victory and start the year at 1-0. Husson slides to 1-3 with the setback.

Trailing 6-4 early in the initial set, the Bobcats promptly proceeded to claim 19 of the frame's next 20 points, creating a comfortable 23-7 advantage en route to the 1-0 match lead. Bates never trailed in the second session as the home team went ahead overall, 2-0, after an 11-4 run to close the stanza.

Bates jumped out to a healthy 11-4 advantage in the third-and-final set and closed out the match with an 8-1 run to end the evening with the "W".

The Bobcats ripped 34 kills (7 errors) on 78 total attempts, good for a team hitting percentage of .346. Husson struggled to a mark of .047 (21 kills, 17 errors, 85 total attempts).

Sofia Castiglioni (Berkley, Calif.) enjoyed a stellar .889 hitting percentage as the sophomore provided a team-high eight kills on nine attempts. Junior Emma Patard (Outremont, Quebec) followed with six kills of her own (.500).

Skye Higashihara (Honolulu, Hawaii), making her collegiate debut, contributed a balanced stat line consisting off four kills on eight attempts (.500), along with five digs, a pair of blocking assists, and a match-high 27 assists. Fellow newcomer, Sami Kim (San Diego, Calif.), topped all players with nine digs. 

Ellie Asada (Jr.-Honolulu, Hawaii) scorched Husson with seven services aces, to go along with six digs.

Bates now prepares to host both Keene State College and Dean College for a tri-match this Saturday, commencing at 11:00 a.m. in Alumni Gym.