Volleyball Drops 3-1 MASCAC Decision to Framingham State

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- The Framingham State University volleyball team rallied from a set down to earn a 3-1 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) match on Tuesday night at the Athletic Center.

Framingham dropped the opening set of the night, 23-25, before sweeping the next three, 25-12, 25-18, 25-13.

The host Rams improve to 14-8 on the season and 3-1 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 3-9 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

The Rams were led by 13 kills from freshman Brandee Thomas (North Kingstown, R.I.) who also added a block and two digs. Junior Deirdre Fay (Cornwall, N.Y.) was solid with nine kills, 11 digs and two aces, while Whalen finished the match with 33 set assists and 10 digs.

Freshman Alyssa Cafarelli (Peoria, Ariz.) chipped in with 10 digs, while sophomores Grace Caughey (Mendon, Mass.) and Brandey Rodriguez (Lawrence, Mass.) added eight kills apiece.

The Bears were led by eight kills apiece from sophomore Sydney Rice (Medway, Mass.) and junior Erin Clifford (Hanson, Mass.).  Rice also added five digs, an ace and a solo block, while Clifford chipped in with a match-best five blocks including three solo.

Senior Cassidy Tyros (Chelmsford, Mass.) led the defensive effort with a match-high 18 digs, while senior Grace Stafford (Dennis, Mass.) chipped in with five kills, 12 digs and three aces. Tyros now has 1,475 digs in her career.

The Rams jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the opening set and led 15-7 before the Bears came charging back with nine straight points to take a 16-15 lead. BSU senior Elizabeth Roberts (Swansea, Mass.) notched two kills during the run while Rice had one and senior Picabo Miskiv (Barnstable, Mass.) recorded an ace. Framingham tied the game at 16-16 on a Bear error, but Bridgewater State scored the next three points on a kill and ace from Stafford and a kill by senior Kayla Baril (Seekonk, Mass.) to take a 19-16 lead. The Rams tied the set at 21-21 and went ahead 23-21 on another Bear error. Bridgewater, however, would close the set with four straight points capped off by a set-winning ace from sophomore Casey Holmes (Norton, Mass.).

In the second set, Bridgewater State led 6-4 before the Rams rattled off a 10-2 run to take control of the frame. Framingham cruise to the 25-12 win.

In the third, the Bears jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the Rams tied the set at 8-8.  The set would go back and forth until the Rams took the lead for good on a service ace from senior Mackenzie Whalen (Norton, Mass.).

After trading points to open the fourth game, the Rams took a 9-5 lead on a Bear error.  The Bears pulled within one (11-10) on a Ram error, but the Rams rattled off a 14-3 run to close the match.

The Rams are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Worcester State for a tri-match beginning at 12 p.m., while the Bears host Salve Regina on Thursday at 6 p.m.