By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University kept its winning ways going Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

The Bears recorded their sixth straight victory, 3-0, over Salem State University to improve to 7-6 and 2-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.

It is the longest winning streak for BSU since it won eight in a row from Sept. 17-Oct. 2, 2015.

The Bears defeated the Vikings by scores of 25-8, 25-17 and 25-16. It is the third straight match that BSU has swept all three sets and the fifth time in the winning streak.

Sophomore Xin Ai Robinston (Evans Mills, N.Y.) had 17 assists and nine digs for the Bears while sophomore Ava Crane (Dartmouth, Mass.) added nine digs and four service aces.

Graduate student Bethany Votta (Cumberland, R.I.) recorded 15 assists, sophomore Lily Welch (Hanson, Mass.) had 11 digs and junior Meaghan Coutu (Brookline, N.H.) contributed 11 kills.

Votta now has 968 assists in her career.

Junior Presley Shairs (Salem, Mass.) had seven kills and junior Kailey Roche (Billerica, Mass.) added six digs for Salem State (2-14, 0-2 MASCAC).

In the opening set, BSU raced to a 9-1 lead with Welch getting three kills. A kill by junior Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.) gave the Bears a 13-2 advantage.

The closest the Vikings would get was nine, and after taking a 17-7 lead, BSU opened a 24-7 advantage before Coutu ended the set with a kill.

In the second set, Salem State held a 3-2 lead, but seven kills helped the Bears move in front, 15-6.

The Vikings were within 18-14 before a run by BSU finished the set, a kill by Coutu being the final point.

The Bears were behind, 4-0, to open the third set but tied it at 6-6. A kill by freshman Charlotte Sullivan (Hyannis, Mass.) put the Bears up, 15-10, and the lead was 18-13 before they went on a match-closing run.

BSU will travel to Worcester State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Bears, Lancers and Westfield State are the three MASCAC teams with 2-0 marks.

Salem State attempts to end a 12-match losing streak when it hosts Westfield State Wednesday at 6 p.m.