Volleyball Posts 3-0 Win Over Salem

SALEM, Mass. – The visiting Bridgewater State University volleyball team posted a 3-0 (25-17, 25-18 and 25-16) victory over Salem State University on Saturday afternoon in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) match at Salem's Twohig Gymnasium.

The Bears improve to 3-2 on the season and 2-0 in the MASCAC, while the Vikings slip to 1-9 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Sydney Rice (Medway, Mass.) notched nine kills, two aces and solo block for the Bears, while Becca Whalen (Plymouth, Mass.) also recorded nine kills and Amber Arruda (Swansea, Mass.) added eight kills. Gabryella Serrano (Bridgewater, Mass.) checked in with eight kills, two aces, seven digs and two blocks (one solo). Victoria Caiano (Acushnet, Mass.) produced 22 digs, three aces and two assists, and Savannah Quintal (Assonet, Mass.) had a game-high 24 assists to go along with three aces and four digs.

Arruda produced four kills and hit .571 in the first set as Bridgewater State defeated Salem State 25-17 in the opener. Rice and Whalen combined for eight kills as the Bears built a 19-10 lead following a kill from Rice. An attacking error by Bridgewater State drew the Vikings to within 21-15, but the Bears sealed the win following back-to back kills by Arruda and Saadia Reid (Bridgewater, Mass.).

Bridgewater State hit at a .265 clip, committing just four errors in a 25-18 set two victory. The two teams played a tightly contested match to open the set. Leading 5-4, the Bears opened up a 10-6 lead following consecutive kills by Abigail Reardon (Fairhaven, Mass.). A kill by Abigail O'Connor (Gilford, N.H.) and an attacking error drew Salem State to within 13-11, but poor hitting by the Vikings helped the Bears pull away late, as two kills from Serrano secured the win.

Salem State trailed 8-7 in set three following a kill by Miranda Quinlan (Billerica, Mass.). A 7-3 run by Bridgewater State propelled the visitors to a 15-10 lead after a kill by Rice. Rice continued her strong play as two more kills and back-to-back aces by the senior helped the Bears build a 21-11 lead. Trailing 24-12, four straight points by Salem State made it a 24-16 game, but Serrano ended the set and match with her eighth kill of the day.

O'Connor led the Vikings with five kills. Michelle Le (Woburn, Mass.) had 10 digs while Eva Haralabatos (Melrose, Mass.) contributed 12 assists.

In upcoming action, the Bears host Dean College on Monday evening at six, while the Vikings travel to Westfield State University on Wednesday night for a seven o'clock MASCAC match with the Owls.