Volleyball Takes Two from Southern Maine and Newbury

Gorham, Maine – The Framingham State University volleyball team swept a pair of matches this afternoon defeating Southern Maine, 3-1, before downing Newbury College 3-0 in a non-conference tri-match at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.

The Rams defeated Southern Maine, who defeated Newbury 3-0 in the days other match, by scores of 25-16, 25-14, 27-29 and 25-18 and topped Newbury 25-14, 25-9 and 25-19.

With the pair of victories, the Rams improve to 5-1 on the year, while the Huskies are now 4-3 and Newbury falls to 1-6.

Against Framingham, the Huskies got off to a sluggish start dropping the first two sets.  The Huskies rallied to take the third set before dropping the decisive fourth set.  Sophomore outside hitter Jess Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 kills and 16 digs.  Classmate Mo Raymond (Sanbornton, N.H.) contributed eight kills.  Junior co-captain Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) had 23 assists and nine digs, and senior co-captain Demi Ruder (Grand Junction, Colo.) had a match-high 17 digs.

The Huskies had no answer for FSU six-foot junior Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.). Rackliffe had 17 kills with a .350 attack percentage (17-3-40) to lead the Rams front line.  Senior Danielle Girard (Tivoli, N.Y.) added 11 kills, and senior Annie DeLoid (Plymouth, Mass.) had eight. Sophomore Sarah Leonard (Southborough, Mass.) passed out 28 assists, and rookie Mackenzie Whelan (Norton, Mass.) had 17 assists. The Rams also picked up 10 points blocking at the net.  DeLoid had seven block assists, and Rackliffe had a solo block and four assists.

In the FSU-Newbury match, all 15 players on the Rams' roster saw action.  Rackliffe had 12 kills to lead the attack.  Leonard (15) and Whalen (11) quarterbacked the offense, and Girard had a match-high 13 digs.  Banks had 14 kills, and Reynoso had 23 assists for Newbury.

The Huskies go on the road Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) for their next match at Bates College.  Framingham State opens its MASCAC schedule on Tuesday (6:00 p.m.) traveling to Bridgewater State University.  Newbury hosts Eastern Nazarene College on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.).

Release courtesy of USM Sports Information.