Worcester, MA- In the final match of the 2024 season, the Worcester State Lancers (8-17, 4-2) aim to solidify their third seed in the postseason with a win today at MCLA. Last season the Lancers concluded their season with a win versus MCLA before dropping a semifinal match to them a few days later, which is already a precursor to the importance of today's match.

Final

Worcester State: 2

MCLA: 3

(22-25, 25-21, 26-24, 13-25, 10-15)

How it Happened:

Worcester would grab an early 6-3 lead in the opening set of action with the Trailblazers, but MCLA would work to balance the sheet throughout the mindset rallies. With the score sitting at 13-10 for Worcester, MCLA would nab six unanswered points to grab a 16-13 lead forcing Worcester onto their defensive heels to get back into the action. Worcester would rise to the challenge off a service ace from first year Alexia Mitchell (Pawling, NY) would tie the score at 17-17, which would see the teams trade points until MCLA again went on a mini run, this time of four points to claim the 25-22 first set victory.

The second set would see multiple lead changes as Worcester jumped out early before MCLA returned the favor. Worcester State would again look to the Mitchell serve to begin a run as they grabbed six unanswered to jump to a 14-8 lead. As service jumped from side to side in the mid set points, Worcester would grab an extra point nearly each service to hold the Trailblazers off and claim the 25-21 win. 

The third set was an even battle with MCLA just holding on to a could point lead to hold the edge for the majority of the match until another Mitchell service would allow the Lancers to tie up the action at 22-22. Both programs traded some late set points and forced the extra point work around to win by two before MCLA service error and a graduate student Maeve Cadogan (Wilminton, MA) block would seal the deal for the third set for the Lancers. 

The fourth set would find each team evenly battling it out before MCLA went on a points tear, grabbing 15 points to Worcester's five to take a commanding 20-10 lead. Worcester would work to close the gap but it would take just 10 more points for the Trailblazers to find the needed five to claim the fourth set win and force a deciding fifth set.

MCLA would carry their momentum into the fifth set grabbing a lead early and never giving it up as they would claim the set 15-10.

Junior Cassidy D'Esposito (Medford, NY) would lead the kill department on the day with 14 while senior Angela Colonis (Waterford, CT) would wrack up 24 digs in today's meeting.

What's Next:

The Lancers (8-17, 4-3) will now await the outcome of today's match to be awarded their final seeding and matchups for next week's MASCAC Volleyball Tournament.