Volleyball Sweeps Tri-Match with Eastern Nazarene and Wentworth
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University women's volleyball team swept a non-conference tri-match this afternoon at home defeating both Eastern Nazarene College and Wentworth by a score of 3-0, while Eastern Nazarene rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Wentworth 3-2 in the day's other match at Framingham's Athletic Center.
With the pair of victories, the Rams are now 17-5 on the year, while the Lions improve to 11-12 and the Leopards fall to 7-10.
The Rams took the first match of the day in straight sets by scores of 25-21, 25-19 and 25-23. The Rams used a five point run to break open a tied first game and take control late in the frame, while in the second game the two teams traded points for much of the game till the Rams rattled off three in a row to take control after a 13-13 tie. In the final set, the Rams led from the onset, but the Lions rallied from six down to tie the game (19-19) on back-to-back errors by the Rams. The two teams traded points before kills by freshman Danielle Girard (Tivoli, NY) and sophomore Ashley Nee (Hanson, Mass.) sealed the victory for Framingham State.
Junior Andressa Fernandes (Framingham, Mass.) led the Rams attack with a match-best 17 kills to go along woith 10 digs and four aces. Girard finished the match with nine kills and five digs, while Nee chipped in seven kills, six digs and three blocks. Senior Jackie Friel (Centerville, Mass.) also had three blocks, while sophomore Courtney Wilbur (Braintree, Mass.) chipped in three aces and 11 digs.
The Lions were led in the opening match by sophomore Kortney Jenkins (Bunker Hill, NY) and junior Leann Williams (Oxford, PA) who had nine and eight kills respectively. Sophomore Kori Sorenson (Quincy, Mass.) led the defensive effort with 19 digs, while junior Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) and Williams made three blocks apiece. Sophomore setter Birdina Tuiava (Colorado Springs, CO) dished out 21 assists.
Eastern Nazarene rallied from two sets down to take the day's second match 3-2. Wentworth led the distance in the opening game taking the set 25-21. The Leopards overcame an early deficit to tie the second game at 20-20. The two team traded points over the next stretch before a Lion error and a kill from junior Michelle Hobbs (Northwood, NH) gave the Leopards a 32-30 win in the second.
Tied at 10 all in the third, Eastern Nazarene rattled off three straight points including a kill from freshman Dana Day (Coarsegold, Calif.) to take control of the frame that they eventually won 25-21. Eastern Nazarene led the distance in the fourth set taking a 25-15 victory evening the match at two games apiece.
In the deciding set, the Lions led the entire way as they started the set on a 4-0 run and never looked back taking the frame 15-6.
The Lions were led in match two by Jenkins who filled the stat sheet with 10 kills, 24 digs and three aces, while Clinkscale chipped in 12 kills and three aces. Tuiava contributed 26 assists, three aces and two blocks, while Sorensen led the defense with 29 digs.
Wentworth was led by senior Julie Rahilly (Nashua, NH) who picked up 19 kills, 12 digs and an ace, while sophomore Sam Curran (Quincy, Mass.) and junior Michelle Hobbs (Northwood, NH) chipped in 30 and 20 digs respectively. Sophomore Shannon Ponce (San Jose, Calif.) added 33 assists for the Leopards.
The Rams closed the day winning a tightly contested third match 3-0 by game scores of 25-22, 25-16 and 25-21.
Fernandes once again led the Rams with 12 kills and eight digs, while Girard added eight and 13 digs with a pair of aces. Friel and Nee continued their solid play at the net as they combined for four blocks in the game. Sophomore Michelle DeJesus (Framingham, Mass.) led the back row with 15 digs, while Wilbur added 10.
The Leopards were led by Rahilly and Hobbs who had nine kills apiece, while Curran chipped in 19 digs and Ponce added 14 digs and 24 assists.
The Rams return to action on Tuesday when they host MASCAC rival Bridgewater State at 6 p.m., while the Leopards travel to Roger Williams on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. and the Lions travel to Western New England also at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.