FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - The Bridgewater College women's volleyball team fell to Salisbury, 3-0, and to host the University of Mary Washington, 3-0, in back-to-back contests.

The opening set of the first match saw Salisbury land on the board with the first point but Bridgewater followed close behind as they continually tied the score. By the middle of the set, Salisbury had a 16-10 lead over the Eagles.

Sarah Temple, Abby Mills, and Jette Wade helped the effort to decrease the point gap by adding a kill each, but it wouldn't be enough as three Salisbury kills capped off the first set 25-15.

Bridgewater opened the second set with the first point but Salibury was quick to pull ahead with an early lead. The Eagles were able to bounce back despite Salisbury trying to leave them behind. A pair of kills by Carleigh Studtmann was the momentum the squad needed as Courtney Thornburg served two Salisbury errors and a service ace to tie the score 15-15.

However, Salisbury was quick to escape the Eagles' clutches and widened the gap. Despite Bridgewater's efforts at a comeback, Salisbury would not give up their lead and locked down the 25-18 victory.

Salisbury came out hard and fast in the final set, collecting an early five point lead until a kill by Kristen Trice and a service ace from Rachel Donaldson gave the Eagles their first points of the set. Megann Grimes and Studtmann chipped in a kill each to catch up to Salisbury, with Thornburg serving up two attack errors to leave Salisbury with only a two point lead.

Although Salisbury managed to slip away again, a service error stopped them in their tracks. Excellent serving by Chelsea Owensby bridged the gap for Bridgewater but the Eagles couldn't quite catch up as Salisbury delivered the final kill to win 25-17 and claim the match victory.

Studtmann led the Eagles' offense with seven kills while Mills chipped in with four kills. Trice and Temple added three kills apiece. Thornburg, Owensby and Donaldson led the defense with eight digs each. Shannon Skellchock notched 17 assists for the match.

Salisbury was led by Katie Stouffer who collected 11 kills while Julie Posten tallied 10. Rachel Pierson led the defense with 13 digs and 19 assists. Alexis Howatt and Kacey Franz posted three service aces apiece.

Bridgewater faced the host Mary Washington in their final match of the day. Both teams traded points in the start of the first set but Bridgewater managed to steal the lead on a Mary Washington service error.

Skellchock and Studtmann maintained the lead for the Eagles with a kill each while Abby Mills chipped in a kill herself moments later. Mary Washington managed to catch up and tied the score 11-11, but soon slipped away with the lead. Bridgewater remained close behind and were able to bring the score to 22-21 but a Mary Washington service ace concluded the set, 25-21.

Both teams started off the second set fighting for the lead, with either squad never letting the other out of their sight. Mary Washington soon broke free for a five point lead before Bridgewater caught up with a 14-13 score. However, three service aces from Mary Washington left the Eagles behind once again.

Bridgewater fought hard to pick up the points with Grimes adding a pair of kills while Trice and Mills chipped in two each for a closer score of 24-20. But Mary Washington would take the set win, 25-20, on a final kill by Megan Payne.

In the third set, Mary Washington was first on the scoreboard but didn't get very far as Mills and Studtmann posted the first points for Bridgewater. However, Mary Washington were able to keep the Eagles at a distance and never relinquished the lead as they secured the win, 25-15.

Mills led the Eagles with 10 kills. Donaldson and Temple recorded four kills each. Donaldson led the defense with six digs with Mills and Owensby collecting five apiece. Skellchock tallied 26 assists.

Rachel Hendricks led Mary Washington with 14 kills with Dani Fiore chipping in 10. Jenna Yost led the defense with 10 digs while Emma Olson tallied 25 assists. Olson and Kyla Foss recorded five service aces each.

The Eagles return Oct. 15 when they travel to Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) rival Emory & Henry College. Game time is set to start at 6:30 p.m.