Volleyball Celebrates Senior Day with 3-1 Win over Salem State

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University volleyball team celebrated Senior Day with a 3-1 victory over visiting Salem State University on Saturday at the Tinsley Center.

Bridgewater won the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-13. After dropping a close 25-23 decision in set three, the Bears closed out the match with a 25-18 win in the fourth set.

The Bears improve to 5-15 on the season and 4-3 in the MASCAC as they snapped a five-match losing streak. The Vikings fall to 14-10 overall and 5-2 in conference play. Despite the setback, Salem State is still the number two seed in next week's MASCAC Tournament and will have a first round bye. Bridgewater State is seeded fifth in the tournament and will travel to #4 Framingham State University on Tuesday evening for a first round match against the Rams.

Junior middle hitter Erin Clifford (Hanson, Mass.) paced the Bears with a match-high 13 kills and a .571 hitting percentage. Clifford also added three blocks including two solo stops.

BSU senior Kayla Baril (Seekonk, Mass.) checked in with ten kills, a match-best six aces to go along with 16 digs and one assisted block, while classmate Grace Stafford (Yarmouth, Mass.) notched ten kills, then digs and a solo block. Baril served for nine straight points to start the fourth set and the Bears' lead in the set never got below five.

Senior libero Cassidy Tyros (Chelmsford, Mass.) contributed a match-high 24 digs as well an ace for Bridgewater State, while sophomore setter Casey Holmes (Norton, Mass.) and senior setter Picabo Miskiv (Barnstable, Mass.) combined for 34 assists with Holmes leading the way with 20. Sophomore middle hitter Sydney Rice (Medway, Mass.) added eight kills, three blocks (two solo) and an ace.

Tyros now has 1,543 digs in her career as she trails Patricia Carlson (1,577) and Melissa Machado (1,565) on the Bears' all-time list.

Junior setter Morgan Adams (Scotia, N.Y.) led the way for Salem State with a match-best 25 assists to go along with an ace, while sophomore outside hitter Darcy McDowell (Goshen, N.Y.) tallied a team-high six kills as well as seven digs and two blocks (one solo). Senior libero Samantha Chiasson (Duxbury, Mass.) added 14 digs and two aces for the Vikings.

Prior to the match, the Bears held Senior Day festivities as Baril, Miskiv, Stafford, Tyros and fellow senior Elizabeth Roberts (Swansea, Mass.) were honored.