WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University women's volleyball earned a split in a doubleheader Friday evening at John P. Brissette Court. The Lancers opened the night by defeating Fitchburg State 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-14) in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action, before falling 3-0 to Trinity College (26-24, 26-24, 25-17).
With the split, Worcester State moves to 5-9 overall on the season and 2-0 in MASCAC play.
Worcester State was clicking on all cylinders in the win over Fitchburg, a match that featured just one tie (1-1 in the first set) and one lead change (Worcester State coming back from down 1-0 in the first set) the entire match. The Lancers finished with an attack percentage of .346, and were led by sophomore Natalie Gillis (Ashland, Mass.), who put down 16 kills in the match. Seniors Stephanie Chapin (Hampden, Mass.) and Marissa Proia (Framingham, Mass.) combined for 13 kills without an error as well to lead the Lancer offense. Defensively, Chapin and junior Madison Kuzio (Franklin, Mass.) paced Worcester State with eight digs apiece.
Meredith Taylor and Lauren Riccardi each had five kills to lead the Falcons in the defeat, with Riccardi adding three service aces.
The Lancers battled in the nightcap against a strong Trinity squad, ultimately falling short in straight sets. Worcester State led nearly the entirety of the first set because the Bantams eventually battled back to take a 26-24 victory. Sophomore Leelle Tyler (Longmeadow, Mass.), who finished as the match's co-leader with nine kills, led all players with four kills in the opening set.
Worcester State had a set point at 24-23 in the second set, looking to even up the match, but the Bantams would score three straight points to take a commanding 2-0 lead. Tyler again led Worcester State with three kills in the set, but the Bantams recorded 14 kills in the set to go up by a pair.
The Lancers had lost all the wind out of their sails by the third set, and Trinity was able to come away with the sweep with a 25-17 clinching set.
Defensively, Gillis and sophomore Brooke Lamothe (Tewksbury, Mass.) led Worcester State with 16 digs apiece, while Trinity's Wyllie Boughton led all players with 18 digs. Setter Jessica Yang also had 16 digs in the victory for Trinity. Colette Scheffers and Aly Conde joined Tyler as co-leaders in kills, each finishing with nine.
Worcester State will be back in action to battle Bridgewater State in MASCAC play on the road next Wednesday. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.
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