Volleyball Drops 3-0 Decision to Worcester State in MASCAC Quarterfinals

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Fourth-seeded Worcester State University posted a 3-0 victory over #5 seed Bridgewater State University in the quarterfinal round of the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Volleyball Tournament on Tuesday night at the John P. Brissette Gymnasium. The Lancers won by set scores of 25-10, 25-14 and 25-23.

The Lancers (8-21) advance to the MASCAC Tournament semifinal round and will travel to top-seeded Framingham State University on Thursday night to take on the Rams at 7:15. The Bears wrap up the season with an overall record of 9-11.

Worcester held a decided edge in play over the first two sets as the Lancers raced out to a 2-0 lead in the match. The third set was a back-and-forth affair with neither team leading by more than three points after the score was knotted at 8-8. A kill by freshman outside hitter Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.) gave the Bears a 22-21 lead late in the set. The Lancers, however, answered with a pair of kills by freshman right side hitter Cassidy D'Esposito (Medford, Mass.) sandwiched around a BSU error to pull ahead, 24-22. After a kill by Bears' freshman right side hitter Meaghan Coutu (Brookline, N.H.) made it a one-point game, senior right side hitter Gabby Alberghini (Northborough, Mass.) won the set and the match with a kill.

Worcester finished with 36 kills and a .348 hitting percentage on the evening with nine aces and five blocks. Bridgewater notched 22 kills and posted a .069 hitting percentage to go along with three aces and one block.

Senior outside hitter Camryn Burgio (Quincy, Mass.) paced the Lancers with nine kills, two aces, 11 digs and two blocks (one solo). D'Esposito added eight kills, while senior middle blocker Erin Gaffney (Worcester, Mass.) checked in with seven kills and an assisted block. Sophomore setter Angela Colonis (Waterford, Conn.) dished out 17 assists to go along with three kills and three aces. Sophomore setter Megan Bardis (Rutland, Mass.) contributed eight assists and three aces for the hosts.

Coutu led the way for Bridgewater State with eight kills. Senior setter Savannah Quintal (Assonet, Mass.) added 11 assists and four digs for the Bears, while junior libero Victoria Caiano (Acushnet, Mass.) recorded nine digs, four assists and an ace, and Gowell finished with four kills and a pair of aces.