WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State College volleyball team earned a share of the Massachusetts State College Athletics Conference (MASCAC) regular season championship by nipping Westfield State, 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 26-28, 25-18, 15-12), on Tuesday evening, October 28.
Bridgewater and Westfield share the MASCAC regular season title with 5-1 records, but the Bears will host the conference postseason tournament on Saturday, November 8, based on the No. 1 tiebreaker criteria - head-to-head competition. Worcester State, which finished with a 4-2 conference record, defeated Bridgewater State, 3-1, earlier this season.
Westfield dropped the first set and fell behind in the second set but staged a late rally for its three-point triumph. The Owls outlasted the Bears, 28-26, in the third set. But Bridgewater controlled play for the most part in the final two sets for the big comeback win.
Sophomore outside hitter Julie Clerc (Acushnet, MA) led the Bears with 22 kills, 10 digs and three aces while junior outside hitter Alyssa Grimes (Acushnet, MA) added 20 kills, Three blocks and a pair of aces. Junior libero Brianne Cobb (New Bedford, MA) recorded 18 digs and three service aces, and sophomore setter Natalie Cohen (Marston Mills, MA) racked up a career-high 53 assists. Freshman Shelly DePina (New Bedford, MA) posted a team-high four blocks.
Sophomore Maura McLaughlin (West Roxbury, MA) led the Owls with eight blocks, including five solo blocks. Junior Stephanie Bartkus (North Merrick, NY) had 12 kills, 11 digs and two service aces. Junior Katie Kurty (Ludlow, MA) contributed 21 digs and freshman Kerin DeGirolamo (North Attleboro, MA) finished with 28 assists and two service aces. Freshman Alex Wahl (East Falmouth, MA) had a team-high 13 kills.