Volleyball Downs St. Joseph’s in Straight Sets

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University volleyball team received 12 kills from freshman Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.) as they defeated St. Joseph's College (ME) 3-0 this evening in a non-conference match at Framingham's Athletic Center. 

With the win the Rams improve to 23-5 on the year, while the Monks fall to 19-10.

The first set went back and forth with the Rams eventually taking the frame 25-23. In the second, the Rams jumped out to leads of 7-1 and 13-5 before the Monks started chipping away. The Monks pulled within four at 24-20, but a Ram kill closed the set.  The third set mirrored the second with the Rams taking the early lead and the Monks fighting back tying the score at 15-15 before taking the lead 17-15 on kills by sophomores Alli Hollander (Thermal, CA) and Felicia Wachowiak (Milton, NH).  The Rams tied the score at 21-21 and again at 23-23 before tallying the last two points on a kill from freshman Julia Wan (South Deerfield, Mass.) and a Monk error to secure the three set victory.

Rackliffe led the Rams with 12 kills, four digs and four solo blocks, while Wan finished with five kills, five digs and four aces.  Sophomore Danielle Girard (Tivoli, NY) chipped in nine kills and 22 digs, while junior Maribeth Martin (Barnstable, Mass.) added 20 set assists.

The Monks were led by 11 kills from Wachowiak, while freshman Marissa Peart (Farmington, NH) chipped in with seven.  Senior Erica Russi (Debary, FL) led the back line with 20 defensive digs, while freshman Victoria Huntley (Ellsworth, ME) and sophomore Abbie McPhee (Epping, NH) chipped in with 12 apiece.  Freshman Mariah Hebert (Biddeford, ME) finished the night with a match-high 21 assists.

The Rams return to action on Saturday morning when they host MASCAC rival Westfield State at 11 a.m. in a match that will determine the conference's regular season champion, while the Monks close out the regular season on Saturday at Johnson & Wales at 1 p.m.