Volleyball Drops 3-1 Decision to Framingham State on Senior Night

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The visiting Framingham State University volleyball team posted a 3-1 decision over Bridgewater State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) match on Senior Night at the Tinsley Center. Framingham won by set scores of 25-20, 17-25, 25-19 and 25-23.

The Rams improve to 16-10 on the season and 5-1 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 9-8 overall and 3-3 in conference play. Framingham has won 17 straight matches against the Bears dating back to 2011.

Framingham battled back from an early deficit to post a 25-20 decision in the opening set. The Rams notched nine kills and posted a .240 hitting percentage to go along with five blocks in the opener. Freshman outside hitter Kate Petrosso (Attleboro, Mass.) led the way in the set with three kills and two assisted blocks. Bridgewater finished with ten kills in the first set, but nine attacking errors led to a .032 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Sarah Brogioli (Milford, Mass.) paced the Bears with four kills and an ace.

Bridgewater dominated play in the latter stages of the second set to come away with a 25-17 win and even the match at 1-1. Leading 17-16, the Bears closed out the set with an 8-1 run on the strength of three kills from junior outside hitter Abigail Reardon (Fairhaven, Mass.) and two by Brogioli. Reardon and freshman outside hitter Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.) finished with three kills in the set as the Bears attacked very well with 12 kills and just one error resulting in a .393 hitting percentage. The BSU defensive effort limited the Rams to a .086 hitting percentage in the second stanza. Petrosso and junior outside hitter Anna Szymanski (Harwinton, Conn.) connected for three kills apiece in the set to lead the Framingham attack.

The Rams bounced back with a 25-19 triumph in the third set to take a 2-1 lead. With the scored knotted at 15-15, Framingham converted six of the next seven points to take control of the set. Sanders notched four kills in the set including three down the stretch, while Szymanski also notched four kills and freshman setter Stella Bailey (Wrentham, Mass.) recorded a pair of aces. The Rams registered 11 kills in the set and a .200 hitting percentage while limiting the Bears to a .094 hitting percentage.

Framingham held off a furious Bridgewater rally in the fourth set as the Rams came away with a 25-23 decision and a 3-1 victory in the match. The Bears trailed 22-12 in the set but three kills by Reardon as well as a pair of aces from junior setter Bethany Votta (Cumberland, R.I.) and one by Brogioli as well as three FSU errors helped close the gap to 24-23. However, a BSU serving error closed out the set. Szymanski tallied five kills in the fourth frame.

The Rams finished with 38 kills, 11 aces and 13 blocks in the match as well as a .164 hitting percentage.

Szymanski paced the visitors with a match-best 15 kills and 13 digs, while junior middle hitter Hailey Sanders (Franklin, Mass.) added eight kills. Bailey and Isabel Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) combined for 31 assists for the Rams with Henwood checking in with 11 digs and three aces. Sophomore middle hitter Kiana Jones (Wilbraham, Mass.) filled the stat sheet with five kills, two aces and eight blocks (one solo).

The Bears finished with 44 kills, 12 aces and four blocks in the match as well as a .133 hitting percentage.

The setting combination of Votta and senior Savannah Quintal (Assonet, Mass.) led the way for Bridgewater State. Votta finished with 21 assists, three aces and eight digs, while Quintal recorded 19 assists, five digs and a match-high five aces. Gowell led the attack with 11 kills while Reardon tallied nine kills and one solo block and Brogioli contributed nine kills and two aces. Junior libero Victoria Caiano (Acushnet, Mass.) added 11 digs.

The two teams totaled 15 serving errors with the Bears committing nine.

Prior to the start of the match the Bears honored seniors Becca Whalen (Plymouth, Mass.) and Alicia Delaney (Brockton, Mass.) and graduate student Julia Cabral (Acushnet, Mass.).

Both teams are off until next week. The Bears travel to UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday (Oct. 26) night to take on the Corsairs at seven o'clock. The Rams head to Trinity College on Tuesday (Oct. 25) evening for a six o'clock match with the Bantams.