Volleyball Falls to Emmanuel 3-1

Boston, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's volleyball team defeated Framingham State College, 3-1 in a hard fought, evenly matched contest on Thursday evening at the Jean Yawkey Center in Boston, Mass.  The Saints improve to 4-7 on the season, while the Rams fall to 10-7.

The Saints and the Rams played evenly to start the match, locking up at 10-10 in the first set. Framingham State senior Ashley Trudeau (Rockland, Mass.) helped give the Rams a three point edge while on serve, increasing the visitors' lead in the first set to 15-12. Emmanuel sophomore Yun-Ting Lee (Cambridge, Mass.) responded with an ace to give the Saints a boost, but Framingham State maintained strong play to make the score 20-14 before the home side called a timeout. After the timeout, the Rams would go on to take the opening frame, 25-15.

Emmanuel started the second set grabbing a quick 5-1 lead thanks to solid serving by sophomore Samantha Andazola (Queen Creek, Ariz.). The Saints quickly increased their lead to 11-4. The home squad kept strong pressure on the Rams throughout the set, eventually taking a 22-12 advantage.  The Rams fought back, taking the next three points before the Saints called a timeout. The stoppage in play gave the Rams a chance to regroup and the score stood at 24-20 before another timeout was called.  The Saints gathered together and found the small spark needed, finishing with a 25-20 win to even the match at one set apiece.

The third set started as evenly as before with Emmanuel finding a small edge to take a 9-6 lead thanks to an ace from junior Kathryne Olsen (Fairhaven, Mass.). The Saints bolstered their lead to 18-11 off a powerful kill by Andazola and moved ahead 20-14 in the set. True to the flow of the match, the Rams rebounded to pull within three points at 22-19 before the Saints used a timeout. One final error by the Rams gave the Saints a 25-22, third set win and a 2-1 edge in the match.

The Saints jumped out to fast 9-6 lead in the fourth set, bumping that total to 20-11.  However, the Rams stormed back to make it 21-17. Junior Rebecca Stanton (Quincy, Mass.) helped push the Saints forward with a key block at the end, leading to an eventual 25-19 win in the fourth set and Emmanuel's fourth victory on the season.

Leading the way for the Saints was Andazola and junior Jenna Ross (Centerburg, Ohio) who each notched 14 kills for Emmanuel in the win. Olsen tallied a team high 40 assists on the day while Lee's 21 digs were also tops for the squad. Stanton also added five blocks for the Saints.

The Rams were led by senior Jessi Goode (Marston  Mills, Mass.) who recorded 37 digs for the match. Trudeau helped boost the Rams' offense with 14 kills, while senior Lauren Kasischke (Methuen, Mass.) and freshman Andressa Fernandes (Framingham, Mass.) each tallied eight kills.

The Saints will next travel to match-up with Saint Joseph College (Conn.) and Emerson College this Saturday at noon and 2:00 p.m., while the Rams travel to Anna Maria College for a tri-match with UMaine Fort Kent.

Release courtesy of Emmanuel Sports Information.