Volleyball Falls to Framingham State, 3-1

Framingham, Mass. -- The Framingham State University volleyball team held off visiting Bridgewater State University, 3-1, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) match on Wednesday night at the Athletic Center.

The Rams improve to 12-13 on the season and 5-1 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 6-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

Framingham won the match by set scores of 25-17, 25-22, 23-25 and 25-23. 

The Rams opened up a 14-7 lead in the opening frame and led 18-11 before taking the set 25-17. In the second, the Bears jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead before the Rams rallied to tie the set at 13-13. A Hailey Sanders (Franklin, Mass.) block put the Rams up 14-13, but the Bears regained a two point lead, 20-18, following a Framingham serving error.  The Rams retied the game at 21-21 on a kill by Brandee Thomas (North Kingstown, R.I.) and a BSU ball handling error before taking the set 25-22. An ace by Thomas set up the set point.

In the third, the set was tied 7-7 before the Rams used a run to open a 13-8 lead. The Rams maintained the narrow lead until the Bears tied the set on a Ram error and went ahead for good, 24-23, on a Gabryella Serrano (Bridgewater, Mass.) kill.  A Becca Whalen (Plymouth, Mass.) kill closed the frame for the Bears, 25-23.

The Rams opened a big lead in the fourth set, 21-13, before the Bears stormed back pulling within one, 21-20, on a Sydney Rice (Medway, Mass.) ace. Rice recorded three aces during the 7-0 run and also added a kill. The Rams, however, were able to regroup and closed out the set and the match, 25-23. Framingham's final four points of the set came as a result of two BSU serving errors, an attacking error and a match-clinching Valerie Sullivan (Buffalo, N.Y.) kill.

The Rams were paced in the match by 13 kills and eight digs with two service aces from Thomas. Sanders finished the match with 11 kills and three blocks, while Sullivan finished with ten kills. Morgan Failla (Providence, R.I.) recorded 30 set assists with eight digs on the night, while Anna Szymanski (Harwinton, Conn.) finished with four kills and 15 digs. Emily Flaherty (Milford, N.H.) chipped in with ten digs and two aces, while Isabel Henwood (Guaynabo, P.R.) finished with 13 digs and four aces.

The Bears were led on the attack by a match-best 15 kills from Whalen, who also added two digs and a block. Rice finished the match with ten kills, four digs and a match-best six aces, while Serrano finished the day with seven kills and 14 digs. Victoria Caiano (Acushnet, Mass.) led all players with 22 digs and four assists, while Savannah Quintal (Assonet, Mass.) checked in with 11 digs and team best 22 assists.

In a fairly evenly played match, Bridgewater State recorded 12 aces (nine serving errors), ten solo blocks and 67 digs while posting a .174 hitting percentage. Framingham State tallied 14 aces (seven serving errors), seven solo blocks and 57 digs to go along with a .199 hitting percentage.

The Bears host UMass Dartmouth next Wednesday evening at six o'clock. The Rams are back in action on Saturday when they host Fisher College and Connecticut College for a tri-match starting at 11:00 AM.