By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (Nov. 3-9) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
MONDAY
VOLLEYBALL, at home, Mass. College of Liberal Arts, 6:00 PM: The Bears look to keep their perfect Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference record intact, hosting the Trailblazers at the Tinsley Center.
With two MASCAC matches remaining, BSU (12-4) is 6-0 in the conference with Westfield State (6-1) and MCLA and Framingham State third at 5-2. The Bears can clinch at least a share of the MASCAC regular season title and the top seed in next week's MASCAC Tournament with a win over the Trailblazers.
The Bears own a 6-1 home record. MCLA is 15-7 overall.
WEDNESDAY
WOMEN'S SOCCER, at home, Fitchburg State, 7:00: The third-seeded Bears begin the defense of their MASCAC tournament championship, hosting the sixth-seeded Falcons in the quarterfinal round.
BSU went 5-1-2 in the conference and is 5-7-4 overall while Fitchburg State is 3-12-3 and finished 2-4-2 in the MASCAC.
The Bears and Falcons tied, 0-0, on Oct. 25. BSU defeated Fitchburg State, 3-1, in the semifinal round a year ago.
The winner advances to Friday's semifinal round.
THURSDAY
VOLLEYBALL, at home, Mitchell College, 6:00 PM: The Bears play their final non-conference match, hosting the Mariners of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.
BSU is 6-4 against non-conference opponents and edged Mitchell, 3-2, a year ago.
The Mariners are 11-13 and 3-10 in the GNAC.
FIELD HOCKEY, at home, MASCAC tournament, 7:00 PM: The second-seeded Bears will host a semifinal-round game against an opponent to be determined.
BSU has played their last 10 conference tournament games on the road. The Bears last hosted a conference tourney game on Nov. 7, 2016, a loss to Plymouth State in the Little East semifinal round.
The Bears played their last six Little East tourney games away from home and have played all four of their MASCAC tourney games on the road since switching conferences.
BSU went 7-2 at home this season and is 15-4. The Bears swept the season series against five of their six MASCAC opponents.
FRIDAY
MEN'S SOCCER, at home, MASCAC tournament, 6:30 PM: The top-seeded Bears are at Mazzaferro Field for a semifinal-round game against an opponent to be determined.
BSU is 11-5-1 and finished atop the MASCAC with a 6-1-1 record. The Bears have a four-game winning streak going.
The Bears were eliminated in the semifinal round a year ago by Salem State, losing on penalty kicks.
SATURDAY
WRESTLING, at the Roger Williams Invitational, 9:00 AM: The Bears travel to Rhode Island for the first of five straight competitions on the road.
Vermont State Castleton won the tournament a year ago with the Bears finishing 10th.
VOLLEYBALL, at Fitchburg State, 11:00 AM: The Bears wrap up the regular season with a trip to Fitchburg.
The Falcons are 4-20 and 2-5 in the MASCAC. BSU has a 5-2 road record.
FOOTBALL, at home, Anna Maria, 4:00 PM: The Bears, 3-1 at home, play their final game at Mazzaferro Field in 2025.
BSU is riding a three-game winning streak to improve to 4-4 and 4-3 in the MASCAC.
Anna Maria, in its first season in the conference, is tied for first place with Plymouth State at 6-1. The AMCATS (6-2 overall) lost their first two games to Eastern University and Framingham State and are on a six-game winning streak.
SUNDAY
MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at Saint Michael's tri-meet, 11:00 AM: The Bears head to Vermont to compete against host and Division II Saint Michael's plus Maine Maritime Academy.
The Bears lost to Saint Michael's a year ago, 133-72.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING, at Saint Michael's tri-meet, 11:00 AM: The Bears will go against Saint Michael's and Maine Maritime Academy in Vermont.
BSU lost to Saint Michael's in 2024, 114-101.