Bracket

For the second straight year, Worcester State grabs the top seed in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament which begins with the quarterfinal round on Tuesday, October 30.

The tournament format has changed this year with the quarterfinals being contested on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. First up is three seed Westfield State facing sixth seed MCLA at 7 pm while four seed Framingham State plays five seed Bridgewater State at 7:30 pm.

Hosting the winner of Framingham/Bridgewater on Thursday, November 1 in the semifinals at 6 pm is top seed Worcester State while second seed Salem State entertains the winner of Westfield/MCLA at 7 pm.

Meeting on Saturday, November 3 at the highest remaining seed are the two victorious teams of the semifinal round with the tournament crown and a bid into the NCAA Tournament on the line. 

With a perfect 7-0 record, Worcester State earned the regular season title, number one seed and a first round bye in the tournament. The reigning MASCAC Player of the Year Amari King netted 292 kills, 3.14 kills per set, 309 digs, 41 service aces and 29 total blocks with a .280 hitting percentage which are all in the top 10 statistically in the league.

Getting the other first round bye with the second seed is Salem State who was 5-2 during league action. Morgan Adams finished the season fourth in the MASCAC in total assists with 487, assists per set at 5.94 and service aces with 41. She also collected 137 digs and 14 total blocks. 

Westfield State claims the third seed with a 5-2 clip in conference action. Jess Haradon tallied 4.46 digs per set and 348 digs, the second and third-highest marks in the league. She also netted 43 assists and 16 service aces. 

The fourth seed belongs to Framingham State who was 4-3 during MASCAC play this season. In her first year with the Rams, Brandee Thomas leds the conference in kills (3.18) and kills per set (331) while adding 70 digs and 13 blocks plus a .217 hitting percentage at the end of the regular season. 

Finishing out the 2018 tournament field with the fifth and sixth seed are Bridgewater State and MCLA. The Bears had a 4-3 record at the conclusion of league competition. Sydney Rice tallied 91 kills with a .247 hitting percentage, 31 total blocks, 27 digs and 12 service aces on the year. The Trailblazers finished with two wins during MASCAC action. Sara LaFreniere led the team with 182 kills while also netting 203 digs, 36 service aces, 17 assists and eight blocks. 

At last year's MASCAC Tournament Championship, number one seeded Worcester State defeated second seed Framingham State, 3-1, to win their first conference tourney title and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.