BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University volleyball team dominated from start to finish as the third-seeded Bears downed sixth-seeded MCLA, 3-0, in MASCAC Tournament quarterfinal round action on Wednesday evening at the Tinsley Center.

The Bears, who won by set scores of 25-13, 25-14 and 25-16, advance to the tournament semifinal round and will take on second-seeded Framingham State University on Saturday afternoon at one.  The MASCAC semifinals and championship match will take place at number one seed Westfield State University.

BSU senior setter Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.) paced the Bears with 30 assists, five digs, three aces, one block assist and one kill.

The Bears recorded 37 kills and a team hitting percentage of .278, while limiting MCLA to just 20 kills and a .110 hitting percentage.  Bridgewater also tallied seven blocks compared to just two for the visitors.

Senior middle hitter Michelle Atkins (Chelsea, Mass.) chipped in with six kills and a .462 hitting percentage for the Bears, while senior outside hitter Danielle Dean (Gilford, N.H.) notched six kills, eight digs and a .385 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Sydney Bennett (North Attleboro, Mass.) led all players with nine kills, and sophomore middle blocker Julie Hutchins (Bellingham, Mass.) finished with five kills and a match-best six blocks (four solo).

Sophomore setter Courtney Parent (South Deerfield, Mass.) paced the visiting Trailblazers with 14 assists, four aces and two kills, while junior defensive specialist Allie Chang (Northport, N.Y.) recorded a match-high 15 digs to go along with an ace.  Senior hitter Julia Christian (Cohoes, N.Y.) and freshman hitter Sam Anderson (Floral Park, N.Y.) each posted five kills and one solo block.

Bridgewater improves to 16-17 on the season with the win, while MCLA wraps up the 2013 campaign with an overall mark of 10-19.