Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information

Championship:  Westfield State 3, Worcester State 0

WESTFIELD – Westfield State University captured the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women’s volleyball tournament championship with a 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-13, 25-11) over Worcester State University on Saturday, Nov. 5.

It was the third consecutive MASCAC tournament championship for Westfield State, which also earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III national championship for the third straight year.

Westfield, 15-20 overall, was the No. 1 seed and dispatched No. 3 seed Bridgewater State, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-20) in the tournament semifinals, while No. 3 Worcester State (13-17), knocked off No. 2 seed Framingham State, 3-2, in Saturday’s other semifinal match.

Westfield excelled in all areas vs. Worcester, led by tournament MVP Kerin DeGirolamo, a senior setter from North Attleboro. DeGirolamo directed the offensive attack with 27 assists on 35 kills for the Owls, whose tall frontline was too much for the Lancers. DeGirolamo also totaled six service aces and eight digs vs. Worcester.

“The team played well today,” said veteran Westfield coach Fred Glanville. “Everybody contributed.”

Worcester’s only lead was in the first set, 6-5. Leading 13-12, Westfield went on a 7-2 run to take a 20-14 lead. Westfield expanded it lead to 23-15 after a DeGirolamo ace and closed out the set with a kill and an ace from Lindsay Prescott.

In the second set, Westfield bolted to leads of 10-2 and 20-6. In the third set, the Owls jumped out to a 7-0 lead behind the serving of DeGirolamo. She served on six of the points, including three aces.

Two consecutive blocks by Kelsey Leonard boosted the lead to 16-4 and the pig pile celebration began several minutes later.

Also playing well for the Owls along with DeGirolamo were: Alex Shaw (11 kills, 2 blocks), Prescott (9 kills, 2 aces), Julia Warner (7 kills, 11 digs), Kelley Dickson (8 digs), and Leonard (5 kills, 5 blocks).

Semi-Final #1:  Westfield State 3, Bridgewater State 0

WESTFIELD – The Westfield State University women’s volleyball team advanced to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship game by sweeping Bridgewater State University, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-20) in a semifinal matchup on Saturday morning, Nov. 5.

Westfield’s tall frontline and Bridgewater service errors (10 in the match) were keys to the Owls’ victory. Also, Westfield only had three service errors along with six service aces.

In the first game, the No. 4 seed Bears (8-21 overall) pulled to within two, 10-8, with three straight points but the visitors committed two consecutive service errors. Westfield expanded its lead to 15-10 and reeled off five straight points, sparked by two kills from Kelsey Leonard (Billerica), to take a commanding 21-13 lead. The Owls closed out the game on successive kills from Lindsay Rescott (Northport, NY).

Westfield (14-20 overall and the MASCAC regular season champion with a 6-0 record) jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the second game and the Owls dominated the net in holding leads of 15-8 and 22-12. Bridgewater tallied four straight points, including a kill by Danielle Dean (Gilford, NH), to close within six, 24-18, but Rescott ended the second game with another kill.

In the third game, Bridgewater jumped out to an 11-7 lead but another service error stalled its offense. Westfield tied the score at 13-all and took the lead for good, 18-16 on a Bear attack error and a service ace from Alyssa Danilow (West Springfield).

The Owls took a 20-17 lead on two consecutive service aces from Alex Shaw (East Falmouth), forcing the Bears to call a timeout.  Leading 22-20, Westfield clinched the match on a Rescott kill, a Kelley Dickson (West Springfield) service ace, and a Bridgewater attack error.

Shaw tied for game-high honors with 11 kills and also had two blocks. Julia Warner (Lee) finished with 11 kills and nine digs and Leonard had eight kills and two blocks. Kerin DeGirolamo (North Attleboro) racked up 32 assists along with two service aces and Dickson notched 10 digs and two aces.

Melanie Appleman (Hyannis) led Bridgewater with 24 assists, four blocks and two aces. Shayna Carmichael (Westport) recorded 10 kills and Tayler Beck (Marion) had seven kills and two aces. Dean tallied 12 digs and Michelle Atkins (Chelsea) had four blocks.

Semi-Final #2:  Worcester State 3, Framingham State 2

WESTFIELD, Mass. – No. 3 seed Worcester State advanced to the championship game of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women’s volleyball tournament with a hard-earned 3-2 victory (25-16, 19-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-8) over No. 2 seed Framingham State University early Saturday afternoon, Nov. 5.

Framingham, which ended its season with a 19-13 overall record, defeated Worcester, 3-1, during the regular season. In the tournament match the Lancers passed well and kept their errors to a minimum, including only two service errors the entire match.

After dropping the first set, 25-16, Framingham rebounded to take the second set, 25-19. The Rams held single-digit leads throughout most of the match but the Lancers closed to within two, 21-19. Framingham then closed the match with four straight points, capped by a kill from Jackie Friel.

Worcester took the third set, 25-17. The Lancers snapped a 4-4 deadlock to take an 11-6 lead, forcing Framingham to call a timeout after a service ace by the Lancers Joanne Grenier.

The teams traded points throughout the remainder of the match with Framingham trailing 21-17, for its smallest deficit. The Lancers closed out the set with two straight services aces from Grenier.

Framingham knotted the match at 2-2 by taking the fourth set, 25-22. Worcester reeled off seven straight points for a 7-3 lead but Framingham regrouped, outscoring Worcester, 8-1, for a 16-13 lead. Three kills from Andressa Fernandes sparked the mini-run.

The Lancers trailed 23-21 following a kill from Becky Lebel, but the Rams pulled out the victory on a Friel kill and Worcester attack error.

In the deciding fifth set, Worcester snapped a 3-3 tie with scoring runs of 6-0 and 10-1. Alyssa Jasper sparked the big scoring surge with three kills and two blocks. Framingham went on a 4-0 run to make it 13-8 but it was too late and kills from Jasper and Robyn Linscott clinched the victory.

Jasper led the Lancers with 15 kills and four blocks and Grenier racked 41 assists. Also playing well were Vicki O’Brien (25 digs), Katey Figella (11 kills), Lebel (13 kills, 15 digs), and Nicole Hanson (20 digs).

For the Rams, Ashley Nee had 14 kills and two aces and Morgan Drew produced 37 assists. Other statistical leaders were: Kayla Bertrand (12 digs, 2 aces), Michelle DeJesus (18 digs), Andressa Fernandes (10 kills), and Friel (four blocks).