Volleyball Defeats Salem State, 3-0, On Senior Night

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- On Senior Night at the Tinsley Center, the Bridgewater State University women's volleyball team posted a 3-0 decision over Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) foe Salem State University.

The host Bears improve to 8-9 on the season and 4-1 in the MASCAC standings.  Salem falls to 5-18 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

Prior to the match, Bridgewater State honored seniors Christine Aloia (Uxbridge, Mass.), Kristina Campbell (Taunton, Mass.), Nicole Cataldo (Billerica, Mass.), Julie Clerc (Acushnet, Mass.) and Natalie Cohen (Marstons Mills, Mass.)

After battling to a tough 25-21 first set victory, Bridgewater dominated play the rest of the way winning 25-9 and 25-12 in the final two sets.

Junior middle hitter Shelly DePina (New Bedford, Mass.) paced the Bears with ten kills and seven digs as well as a pair of blocks which gives her 199 for her career.  Campbell added seven kills, two digs, a block and an ace, while freshman setter Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.) accumulated 26 assists.  Clerc chipped in with three kills, seven digs and an ace as she now has 971 kills in her outstanding four-year career at BSU.

Salem State junior outside hitter Rachel Murphy (Wallingford, Conn.) led the way for the Vikings with three kills, three blocks and three digs.

Bridgewater will compete in the Hall of Fame Invitational hosted by Smith College and Mount Holyoke College on Friday and Saturday.  The Bears will take on Wheaton College on Friday night at 7 PM with the match taking place at Smith.  Bridgewater wraps up MASCAC play next Tuesday (Oct. 26) at Westfield State University.  A win over the Owls would give the Bears at least a share of the conference regular season title and the top seed for the upcoming MASCAC Tournament.

Salem travels to Mount Ida College on Thursday night for a six o'clock match with the Mustangs.