AMHERST, MA - The host Amherst College volleyball team improved to 11-2 overall with a pair of non-conference wins over Westfield State College and Eastern Connecticut State University in first-round action of the Amherst Volleyball Invitational Friday night at LeFrak Gymnasium.

The Jeffs swept Westfield St. 3-0 (30-20, 30-20, 30-14) in the opener behind a match-high 16-kill performance by senior co-captain outside hitter Erica Hewes (Pebble Beach, CA). Fellow co-captain Meredith DeMeules (Los Angeles, CA) set the table for most of the match with 23 assists to go along with 11 digs, six kills and four aces. Junior outside hitter Erin Dittus (Brentwood, TN) was similarly impressive with eight kills and five digs, while first-year phenom Annie Hoeksma (Los Angeles, CA) added 10 assists, seven digs, five kills and four aces. Sophomore outside hitter Leah Schmidt (West Springfield, MA) paced Westfield State with seven kills in defeat, as the Owls fell to 6-5 with the loss.

The nightcap brought similar results as the Jeffs blanked Eastern Connecticut State 30-14, 30-11 and 30-17. Hewes again led the way with 17 kills for Amherst, while DeMeules posted her first triple-double of the season with 11 kills, 22 assists and 16 digs. Meanwhile, Hoeksma added eight kills and 20 assists. Eastern Connecticut State - which dropped to 8-5 overall - was led by senior outside hitter Christine Belanger's (Ashford, CT) seven kills.

Tournament action resumes on Saturday with Coast Guard taking on Westfield State at 11 a.m., Amherst battling Coast Guard and Eastern Connecticut State taking on Westfield State at 1 p.m., and Coast Guard challenging Eastern Connecticut State in the weekend finale at 3 p.m.