Volleyball Drops 3-2 MASCAC Decision to Worcester State

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Worcester State University Lancers posted a 3-2 victory over Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) volleyball action on Tuesday night at the Tinsley Center in Bridgewater.

The Lancers improve to 11-14 on the season and 3-2 in the MASCAC while the Bears slip to 8-16 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The two teams are tied for third place in the MASCAC standings with one conference regular season match remaining for each team.

After spotting Bridgewater a 25-15 decision in game one, Worcester rebounded with 25-19 and 25-18 wins in games two and three respectively.  The hosts forced a fifth and deciding game with a long 26-24 victory in the fourth game, but Worcester won the match with a 15-10 triumph in the finale.

Worcester was led junior middle hitter Becky Lebel (Millbury, Mass.) who notched 15 kills and 20 digs to go along with three blocks.  Sophomore libero Vicki O'Brien (Canton, Mass.) added 19 digs and a pair of aces, while senior setter Joanne Grenier (Orange, Mass.) dished out 43 assists and senior middle blocker Juliana Tyo (Pepperell, Mass.) recorded four blocks.

Sophomore setter Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.) paced Bridgewater with 26 assists, five kills, eight digs, four blocks (three solo) and two aces.  Sophomore middle blocker Michelle Atkins (Chelsea, Mass.) registered a game-best ten blocks (seven solo) to go along with five digs, three kills and one ace. 

Sophomore libero Kristen Robillard (Swansea, Mass.) chipped in with 21 digs and a pair of aces for the Bears, while sophomore outside hitter Danielle Dean (Gilford, N.H.) finished with seven kills and 20 digs and freshman outside hitter Sarah Mullarkey (Salem, Mass.) notched six kills and 20 digs.  Sophomore middle blocker Shayna Carmichael (Westport, Mass.) added seven blocks (six solo) and five kills.

The Bears finished with 21 team blocks in the match as well as six aces, but also recorded 11 serving errors as well as 18 attacking errors.

Bridgewater will compete in the Hall of Fame Invitational hosted by Smith College and Mount Holyoke College on Friday and Saturday with scheduled matches against Colby College, Smith and MIT. Worcester hosts MASCAC foe Mass. Maritime Academy on Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 PM.