BOSTON, Mass. - The Norwich University women's volleyball team made the trip to Boston on Saturday for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) a competitive tri-match at Simmons University.  The Cadets fell in straight sets to the host Sharks before pushing Albertus Magnus College in a hard-fought four-set effort.

Norwich opened the day against Simmons, who defended home court in a 3-0 win (14-25, 13-25, 8-25).  The Sharks built an early 14-4 lead in the opening frame, but the Cadets responded with multiple short bursts to pull within seven on several occasions.  Simmons closed the set on a 4-0 run to seal the first.

The Cadets briefly took a 2-1 lead to open the second stanza behind a kill from Bella Belldina Ray (Martinsburg, W.Va.) and a block assist from Belldina Ray and Charlotte Johnson (Moultonborough, N.H.), but Simmons rattled off 11-straight points to swing momentum.  A late rally fueled by three Shark errors, a Belldina Ray kill from Taylor 'Rae' Lawing (Allen, Texas), and a Cameryn Jenkins (Monroe, Mich.) finish off a Johnson feed helped Norwich close the gap, but the Sharks took the final point to secure the frame.

The third set opened with a sizable 12-1 advantage for Simmons.  Norwich narrowed the margin with a 4-0 spurt but could not regain ground.  Belldina Ray led the team with three kills, while Autumn Parkhurst (Parish, N.Y.) and Isabella Vasapolli (Pepperell, Mass.) each contributed a pair of blocks, with Parkhurst also tallying four assists.  Jenkins anchored the back line with six digs.

Norwich immediately returned to the court for a tightly contested four-set bout with Albertus Magnus, dropping the match, 3-1 (19-25, 11-25, 25-21, 18-25).

The opening frame saw both teams exchange early momentum before the Falcons pieced together a 20-13 lead.  A late 5-1 Cadet run trimmed the deficit to three, but Albertus Magnus secured the final points to take the set.

The Falcons took command in the second set, forcing Norwich into a must-win third. The Cadets responded with one of their most spirited efforts of the season.  After trailing 20-15, Norwich reeled off eight straight points as part of a thrilling 10-1 run to snatch the third set and keep the match alive.

Albertus Magnus regrouped in the fourth, maintaining a narrow lead throughout.  The Cadets rallied from a 17-10 hole with four straight points, but the Falcons closed out the frame and the match down the stretch.

Lawing led the offensive charge with eight kills, while Parkhurst registered a 20-assist, 13-dig double-double.  Sarah DeBot (Rochester, N.Y.) chipped in 10 digs defensively.

The Cadets will return to non-conference action on Wednesday, Oct. 29, with a 7:00 p.m. matchup at Lesley University.  Norwich then re-enters GNAC play with a tri-match at Lasell University on Saturday, Nov. 1, taking on both the host Lasers and Dean College.