Volleyball Drops 3-0 Decision to Framingham in MASCAC Opener

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Framingham State University women's volleyball team posted a 3-0 victory over Bridgewater State University in the MASCAC opener for both teams on Tuesday evening at the Tinsley Center.

The defending MASCAC champion Rams (7-1, 1-0 MASCAC) have now won eight straight matches versus the Bears (1-9, 0-1 MASCAC) and are 9-1 versus their conference rival since 2010.

In a match that took an hour to complete, Framingham cruised to a 25-6 victory in the opening set and then held off the Bears in the final two sets, 25-21 and 25-22.

Junior right side hitter Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.) paced the visitors with a game-high 17 kills to go along with four blocks (three solo). Senior outside hitter Danielle Girard (Tivoli, N.Y.) added four kills, three aces and six digs, while freshman outside hitter Tessa Neverett (Athol, Mass.) chipped in with eight kills and two blocks (one solo). Sophomore setter Sarah Leonard (Southborough, Mass.) and freshman setter Mackenzie Whalen (Norton, Mass.) combined for 29 assists.

For Bridgewater State, junior outside hitter Hannah Maymon (Narragansett, R.I.) filled the stat sheet with 11 kills, 12 digs and a pair of blocks (one solo). Senior outside hitter Clara Goncalves (Dennis, Mass.) added six kills and .312 hitting percentage, while junior setter Charleyne Panner (Gilford, N.H.) notched 25 assists and three kills. Freshman libero Cassidy Tyros (Chelmsford, Mass.) chipped in with 11 digs.

Framingham State finished with a .385 hitting percentage as the Rams recorded 43 kills and only six attacking errors. Framingham also finished with five aces in the match, but also committed nine serving errors.

BSU connected for a .143 attacking percentage with 28 kills and 15 errors.

Both teams are back in action on Thursday evening. The Bears travel to UMass Dartmouth for a seven o'clock match with the Corsairs, while the Rams head to Mount Ida College to take on the Mustangs at six.