NEW LONDON, CONN. – The Mitchell College women's volleyball team got off to a good start in New England Collegiate Conference play on Saturday afternoon, defeating Becker College by a 3-0 final at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The Mariners (4-7 overall, 1-0 NECC) won by set scores of 25-19, 25-21 and 25-21 in the opening weekend of conference play. Freshman Amanda Garcia (New Britain, Conn./New Britain) finished with a season- and match-high 15 kills and hit .452 on the day. Senior Arianna Thomas (Fresno, Calif./Clovis West) contributed eight kills, 12 assists and 11 digs while junior Gloria Charles (New Haven, Conn./Hillhouse) handed out a match-high 15 assists.

Becker (1-13 overall, 0-1 NECC) was led by Katelyn Burns (Fall River, Mass./BMC Durfee), who finished with 10 kills and 14 digs. Joanna Slomiak (Brockton, Mass./Norfolk Agricultural) chipped in with 11 assists and eight digs while Danielle Robbie (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham) had 22 digs.

The first set was tied at 14-14 when Mitchell won six of the next seven points to pull away. Senior Kendra Erskine (Bronx, N.Y./Saint Raymond Academy) had a kill and served for three straight points during the stretch, including the ace that gave the Mariners a 20-15 lead. Seven different players recorded kills for Mitchell for a team total of 15 in the set, while Burns and Jacqueline Chila (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) combined for all but one of Becker's nine kills.

Mitchell took its first lead of the second set at 10-9 and never trailed again. Becker later trailed 20-15 before making a late push to cut the deficit to 23-21, but an attack error by the Hawks left the Mariners with set point. Thomas then closed the door with a service ace, one of nine for Mitchell in the contest.

The Mariners raced out to a big lead in the third set and were up 17-8 before the Hawks fought their way back. Becker won 10 of the next 11 points to knot the score at 18-18, with Chila and Robbie each serving for four points during the run.

Mitchell never fell behind and regained its composure for a strong finish. Leading 22-21, the Mariners closed out the match behind three straight kills, the final two coming from Garcia. Garcia recorded seven kills and a block in the final set to propel Mitchell to victory.

Freshman Kaisea Caramante (Old Lyme, Conn./Lyme-Old Lyme) led the Mariners on the defensive side with 22 digs while classmate Nicole Caminiti (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Churchill School & Center) added 13 digs and four service aces. As a team, Mitchell hit a season-high .129 for the match.

Mitchell will next host Bay Path College on Tuesday, October 2 at 6 p.m. Becker returns to action at Southern Vermont College on Tuesday at 7 p.m.