MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University women's volleyball team faced a pair of tough opponents as it opened the home portion of its schedule on Saturday.
 
The Rangers served as the host for the second day of the NYU Tournament, with four matches taking place in Baldwin Gym.  
 
Drew played the final two matches of the day and opened with a 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-11, 25-17) loss to UMass Boston, a team that finished 17-10 a year ago. The Rangers concluded the day with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-9, 25-21) setback to No. 6-ranked NYU, a squad that went 33-5, won the University Athletic Association title, and reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championships last season.
 
Against UMass-Boston, junior Teeya Desgoutte posted her second straight 14-kill showing to open the season. She also notched 18 digs for her second consecutive double-double. Junior Emily Shirk posted seven kills and 15 digs while senior Alyssa Baron tallied six kills. Sophomore Alyssa Rachwal contributed 27 assists and 21 digs, and freshman Aidyn Stone recorded 16 digs.
 
Desgoutte, Shirk, and junior Marissa Guajardo registered five kills apiece versus NYU, with Shirk also finishing with eight digs. Rachwal delivered 14 assists while Stone chipped in with nine digs.
 
The Rangers gave NYU all it could handle in the final set and led 21-20 after a service error by the Violets. However, that's when NYU called timeout before ending the match on a 5-0 run.
 
Drew returns to action on Thursday, when it hosts Kean at 7 p.m. in a non-conference tilt.