BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University volleyball rebounded from an early deficit as the host Bears defeated Westfield State University, 3-2, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Tuesday evening at the Tinsley Center.
The win for the Bears secures the second seed and a first round bye in next week's MASCAC Tournament. Bridgewater improves to 11-13 overall on the season and 5-1 in the MASCAC. The Owls (9-18, 4-2 MASCAC) are seeded third and will host sixth seeded MCLA in opening round play next Wednesday, October 31st.
Bridgewater dropped the first set of the match 25-15 and trailed 18-8 in set two. The Bears then went on an 8-0 run and closed the set by outscoring the Owls 17-5 to post the 25-23 decision and even the match at 1-1. Bridgewater took the 2-1 lead with a 25-21 win, but Westfield stayed alive with a 25-23 decision to send the match to a fifth and deciding set.
In the fifth set, Bridgewater would jump out to a 7-1 lead and were never seriously threatened as the Bears came away with the 15-6 decision to win the match.
Reigning MASCAC Player of the Week, junior setter Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.), paced the host Bears with 39 assists, 15 digs, two kills and an ace. Freshman outside hitter Carolyn Morin (Marstons Mills, Mass.) led all players with 14 kills to go along with six digs.
Along with Morin's 14 kills, junior middle hitter Michelle Atkins (Chelsea, Mass.) added nine kills as well as two assisted blocks, while freshman middle hitter Julie Hutchins (Bellingham, Mass.) finished with eight kills and a pair of blocks (one solo).
The Bears totaled 94 digs in the match led by junior libero Kristen Robillard's (Swansea, Mass.) match-best 26. Junior outside hitter Danielle Dean (Gilford, N.H.) added 16 digs in addition to seven kills and a pair of aces. Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Mullarkey (Salem, Mass.) chipped in with 15 digs to go along with five kills, an ace and two assisted blocks.
Sophomore Lisa Vega (Milford, Mass.) and juniors Emily Boyer (Stockbridge, Mass.) and Chelsea Correia (East Falmouth, Mass.) all played well of the bench for the Bears. Vega registered ten digs, while Boyer notched five kills, six assists and four digs. Correia led all players with three aces.
Junior outside hitter Julie Warner (Lee, Mass.) tallied 12 kills, 12 digs, a pair of aces and two assisted blocks for the visiting Owls. Sophomore middle hitter Alyssa Danilow (West Springfield, Mass.) posted 11 kills and six blocks (two solo), while freshman setter Stana Wheeler (Sunderland, Mass.) garnered 31 assists and ten digs.
Junior outside hitter Lindsay Rescott (Northport, N.Y.) added nine kills and 11 digs for Westfield, while junior libero Kayleigh Shea (Chelmsford, Mass.) chipped in with 19 digs.
In upcoming action, the Bears will compete at the Rhodes College Halloween Spookfest on Friday and Saturday in Memphis, Tennessee. The Owls will compete at the Brandeis University Invitational also on Friday and Saturday.