Worcester, MA --- Junior Julia Warner (Lee, MA) led the charge with a team-best 13 kills as she helped lead Westfield State to a 3-0 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC women's volleyball action this evening at the Lancer Gym.
The Owls (2-11, 1-1 MASCAC) end a four-game skid while the Lancers fall to 9-6 and 2-1 in conference play. Westfield State won in three straight sets by scores of 25-23, 25-23 and 25-17.
Freshman Shannon Shea (Chelmsford, MA) and junior Lindsay Rescott (Northport, NY) both finished with eight kills apiece for the visitors as she also contributed a pair of service aces.
Sophomore Carolyn Cote (Chelmsford, MA) had a squad-high 21 assists and freshman Stana Wheeler (Sunderland, MA) dished out 19.
For the Lancers, second-year Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) finished with 14 kills and a .303 attacking percentage (14-4-33) and 11 digs. Classmate Amanda Lewis (Poughkeepsie, NY) also finished with 29 assists and 15 digs.
Junior teammates Megan Brown (Dartmouth, MA) and Emily Cox (N. Andover, MA) combined to amass 27 digs and 13 kills. Senior Becky Lebel (Millbury, MA) added seven digs, six kills, two block assists and a solo rejection.
In the opening set, Westfield State clung to a one-to-two point margin for most of the start before they settled for the 19-16 advantage.
A kill by Brown, a block by Lebel and an attacking error helped Worcester State knot the match at 19-19. Warner, however, had plans of her own as she helped the Owls respond with consecutive kills for the 21-19 edge.
Play continued went back and forth until the Lancers equalized the game once again with straight kills by Jasper for the 22-22 game.
But the visitors would close the match with a 3-1 run for the 25-23 win. Rescott sparked the charge as the Owls also took advantage of a pair of miscues to take the opening set.
In the second match-up, Worcester State had the late 20-17 advantage, but Westfield State utilized a 5-0 spurt to take over a 22-20 edge.
After the Lancers rallied to tie the game, the two squads traded points for the 23-23 draw.
The Owls, however, took advantage of a pair of Blue and Gold miscues as a service error and a blocking error ended the match.
In the third set, the Lancers came out on fire, but Westfield State emerged with the 12-9 advantage, following a 5-0 run.
After opening up a 17-10 margin, sophomore Nicole Molleur (Sturbridge, MA) came up big for the Owls with three consecutive aces to take over a commanding 20-10 lead.
But the Lancers didn't give up – rallying for four straight points to trail 23-17 – but it was not enough as they would ultimately fall in the final set by the final score.
Worcester State takes a break to regroup before they head to the Crabtree Classic hosted by Eastern Connecticut on Saturday, October 6. They will face the hosting Warriors at 12 PM and the University of New England at 2 o'clock.
Westfield State comes back to Worcester to take on Clark and Rhode Island College in a tri-match this Saturday. They take on the Anchorwomen at 1 and the hosting Cougars at 3 o'clock.