Fernandes and Nee Power Volleyball Past MCLA

Framingham, Mass. – Behind 18 kills from sophomore Andressa Fernandes (Framingham, Mass.) and 13 from freshman Ashley Nee (Hanson, Mass.) the Framingham State University volleyball team defeated MCLA 3-1 tonight in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) women's volleyball action.

With the win, the Rams improve to 2-1 in conference and 9-6 overall, while the Trailblazers fall to 4-13 overall and 0-3 in the MASCAC.

The Rams won first set 25-22 and the second 25-18 and jumped out to a quick 13-5 lead in the third, but the Trailblazers would not go quietly as they battled all the way back to tie the set at 20-20.  MCLA capitalized on a series of FSU errors and received a timely kill from Taylor Warnock (Port Jervis, NY) to get back in the set.  After the two teams traded points, MCLA took a 24-22 lead and eventually went on to win the set 25-23 to extend the match.

In the fourth set, the Trailblazers jumped out to leads of 11-6 and 13-9 on a kills from Warnock and an ace by junior Julia Christian (Cohoes, NY), but the Rams came back to tie the set on an MCLA error.  They took the lead 16-13 on a block from junior Jackie Friel (Centerville, Mass.) and an ace from Courtney Moylan (Bourne, Mass.) and that was as close as the Trailblazers would get as the Rams were able to close the set and the match.

Fernandes picked up nine digs to go along with her game-high 18 kills, while Nee added two aces and two blocks to go along with her 13 kills.  Freshman Morgan Drew (North Easton, Mass.) chipped in 35 assists, while Friel finished with six blocks and Kayla Bertrand (Agawam, Mass.) added 20 digs.

Both teams return to action on Saturday with the Rams hosting Emmanuel and the University of Maine Fort Kent in a tri-match beginning at noon, while the Trailblazers travel to Kean for a tri-match with Potsdam State beginning at 2 p.m.