WORCESTER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University volleyball team served the Worcester State University Lancers their first Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) loss of the season on Wednesday evening in a five-set match with set scores of 25-17, 27-29, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9.
Bridgewater State senior outside hitter Hannah Maymon (Narragansett, R.I.) led all players with 20 kills and also added a season-high 21 digs to go along with a pair of aces. Senior outside hitter Clara Goncalves (Dennis, Mass.) checked in with 14 kills and nine digs, while senior setter Charleyne Panner (Gilford, N.H.) notched a season-high 46 assists as well as five kills and eight digs.
Sophomore libero Cassidy Tyros (Chelmsford, Mass.) recorded a career-high 38 digs to go along with two aces, while classmate Elexi Miskiv (Centerville, Mass.) tallied 18 digs and a match-high four aces.
The Lancers' Emily Carens (Northborough, Mass.) and Sarah Powers (Hopkinton, Mass.) sparked the Worcester State offense as they totaled 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Powers produced a game-best hitting percentage of .321.
Freshman setter Katie Gagnon (Hampden, Mass.) registered 27 assists and 12 digs on the evening. Leading the Lancers in the dig category was sophomore Megan Leavens (West Boylston, Mass.) who gathered 29.
The Bears finished with 12 aces for the match compared to seven for the Lancers. Both teams recorded seven serving errors. Bridgewater produced 61 kills and a .153 hitting percentage, while Worcester checked in 48 kills and a .093 hitting percentage
Following a first set where the Bears took the lead and never looked back, the Lancers came out strong in a second set which saw 17 ties and nine lead changes. The Bears took a 24-22 lead on a kill from sophomore middle blocker Erin Clifford (Hanson, Mass.). The Lancers, however, fought back and took advantage of four BSU miscues to come away with the 29-27 win.
In the third set, Bridgewater held a 20-15 advantage. The Bears committed five straight errors to help the Lancers tie the set up at 20-20. The match remain tied at 23-23 following a kill from Worcester's Megan Rouillard (Barrington, N.H.). The Lancers then took the lead on a BSU attacking error and won the set on a service ace from Leavens.
The Bears trailed 21-19 in the fourth set but rallied to score six of the final eight points to send the match to a fifth and deciding set. Goncalves and freshman middle blocker Shannon Grindle (Halifax, Mass. notched two kills apiece during the run, while sophomore defensive specialist Alyssa Kelley (Mansfield, Mass.) recorded an ace.
Bridgewater came out strong in the decisive set and never trailed. Maymon closed out the comeback victory with back-to-back kills.
Both the Lancers (6-8, 1-1 MASCAC) and the Bears (5-7, 2-1 MASCAC) resume play on Friday when they travel to the Roger Williams Invitational. The two teams are scheduled to play each other again on Saturday in a 5:00 p.m. matchup.