WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The Caldwell College volleyball team saw its record-setting season come to an end with a 3-0 loss to second-seeded Dowling College in the first round of the NCAA Division II East Region Tournament Thursday afternoon at the University of New Haven. The seventh-seeded Cougars, who set school records for most overall wins and conference victories (18), finish the season at 26-5. The Lions (28-4), who are the defending East Region champions, advance to Friday's second round against third-seeded Bridgeport.

The tone was set in the first set, as Caldwell recorded just two kills against 10 attack errors in a 25-9 loss. The Cougars recovered offensively in the second set with 12 kills, but the Lions tallied 19 kills and a .333 hitting percentage to win 25-17 and take a 2-0 lead. In the third set, Caldwell came back from a 10-3 deficit to take a 13-12 lead. But Dowling, who eliminated the Cougars from last year's regional, regained control and held on to take the set and the match, 25-23. Junior outside hitter Susan McDonough (Saline, MI/Saline) and freshman outside hitter Athena Nestoras (Los Angeles, CA/St. Monica) each had four kills in the set as Caldwell had 17 kills as a team.

McDonough, the CACC Player of the Year, led the Cougars with eight kills, while Nestoras and sophomore middle blocker Kasey Bausch (Bellmore, NY/Holy Trinity) notched six kills apiece. Senior setter Lauren Roth (Findlay, OH/Findlay) dished out 24 assists to extend her school record for assists in a season with 1,076. Defensively, junior Maddy Amon (Louisville, KY/Bishop Moore) had 11 digs.

The match also ended the careers of four seniors: Roth, outside hitters Brittany Denter (Detroit, MI/Kingsley) and Elise Lennon (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) and defensive specialist Cory Fallon (Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park).

CC - 9 17 23
DC - 25 25 25
 

NCAA Division II East Region Volleyball Tournament
Hosted by the University of New Haven, West Haven, Conn.
Quarterfinals
Thursday, Nov. 17
No. 3 Bridgeport 3, No. 6 NYIT 0
No. 2 Dowling 3, No. 7 Caldwell 0
No. 1 New Haven vs. No. 8 Pace, 5:00 p.m.
No. 4 Adelphi vs. No. 5 Stonehill, 7:30 p.m.

Semifinals
Friday, Nov. 18
Bridgeport vs. Dowling, 5:00 p.m.
New Haven/Pace winner vs. Adelphi/Stonehill winner, 7:30 p.m.

Finals
Saturday, Nov. 19
Semifinal winners, 5:00 p.m.