WELLESLEY, Mass. 9/3/2011– The Keene State College volleyball team opened its 2011 campaign by falling to Endicott and Wellesley at the Chip Case Kick Off tri-match on Saturday at Wellesley College.

 "We didn't play well," said KSC head coach Bob Weiner.

Endicott carried the momentum of their early victory over Wellesley into the second match, snagging the first game 25-18. Keene State snagged game two, 25-16, but the Gulls took the next two sets (25-20, 25-11) for the win in a rematch of last season's ECAC Championship game. 

For Keene State, senior outside-hitter Bridget O'Bryant (Merrimack, N.H.) led the way with 10 kills. Junior transfer Alex Lehocky (Edgewood, N.M.), senior Braelan O'Toole (Derry, N.H.), and senior Ellyse Davis (Londonderry, N.H.) chipped in six kills each. Senior setter Laurie Whalen (Niantic, Conn.) and junior transfer Meryl Ragaini (Seymour, Conn.) split the setting duty, combining for 31 assists in the loss.

 In the final match of the day, the Keene State took an early lead over the hosts, but an eight-point serving run for Wellesley gave them a 12-9 edge as the Blue pulled out a 25-21 win. Wellesley kept the momentum in games two and three, 25-18, 25-19, for a straight-set victory. 

 For the Owls, senior outside-hitter Kristen Girard (Red Hook, N.Y.) tallied three kills, as O'Bryant and Whalen combined for 13 assists. Lehockey and sophomore defensive specialist Emma Cheal (Redding, Conn.) added one ace each.

 Keene State is back in action Wednesday night, as they will host Westfield State in the 2011 home opener at 7 p.m. The first 200 Owl fans will receive a floor memento for the opening of the new Spaulding Gymnasium.