Volleyball Downs Worcester State, 3-1

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Propelled by the double-double efforts of junior Shelly DePina (New Bedford, MA) and senior Julie Clerc (Acushnet, MA) Bridgewater State defeated Worcester State, 3-1, this evening in MASCAC women's volleyball action at the Lancer Gymnasium. DePina finished with 15 kills and 12 digs while Clerc recorded 16 kills and 11 digs.

With the win the Bears are now 6-5 overall as they snapped a six-game winning streak for the Lancers, who fall to 10-8. Both squads are now tied for second-place in the conference with identical 2-1 records in MASCAC play.

Bridgewater State took the first set, 25-16, before the Lancers produced a 25-21 victory in the second. The Bears would then control the final two stanzas as they won by scores of 25-16 and 25-13.

BSU was also led by freshman Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, MA) who handed out 40 assists while classmate Chelsea Correia (E. Falmouth, MA) added five digs.

Sophomore Jodi Hallett (Gill, MA) paced Worcester State as she dished out 28 assists and put up seven digs. Senior Brittney Ledoux (Nashua, NH) and second-year Becky Lebel (Millbury, MA) each notched seven kills apiece while junior Joanne Grenier (Orange, MA) ended the evening with a game-best 14 digs. Senior Michelle Maass (Halifax, MA) rounded out the effort for the Blue and Gold with six digs and three aces.

In the opening match the contest went back and forth with neither team up by more than three. With the Bears nursing a 17-16 advantage, the visitors went on an 8-1 run to close out the frame for the 25-16 triumph. Clerc and Depina combined for nine kills in the set for BSU.

Worcester State jumped to an 11-4 advantage, but Bridgewater State got back in the game with a 6-1 spurt. Trailing 16-15 and later 20-19, the Lancers regained their composure and earned with the 25-21 win some solid serving by Maass. Freshman Meg Brown (Dartmouth, MA) had a pair of kills for WSU while Bridgewater State freshman Tayler Beck (Marion, MA) had a team-best six kills.

With the match knotted 1-1, the Bears dominated the final two games. In the third, BSU came out with the 12-2 lead as the closest Worcester State got was 15-11. The visitors eventually won the set, 25-16.

The fourth set started out with a 7-7 score before Bridgewater State went on an 18-5 run to earn the 25-13 victory.

The Blue and Gold look to get back to their winning ways as they head to the Crabtree Tournament this weekend at Eastern Connecticut. After they play Emmanuel in the first round on Friday at 6 PM, the Lancers will play the hosting Warriors at 11 AM and the University of New England at 2 o'clock.

The Bears will head this weekend to the four-team Tom Hay Invitational at Springfield College. Bridgewater State opens with Plymouth State on Friday at 7 before closing out with the host Pride at 10 AM and MASCAC rival Westfield State at noon.