FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Behind 14 kills from senior outside hitter Ashley Trudeau (Rockland, Mass.), the Framingham State University volleyball team opened Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play with a 3-0 win over Bridgewater State on Wednesday evening.
Framingham State (12-8 overall, 1-0 MASCAC) snaps an extended losing streak to the Bears that dates back to the 1992 season. The Rams won in straight sets by scores of 25-18, 27-25, and 25-18. With the loss, the Bears fall to 5-5 on the year and 1-1 in conference play.
In the first set, Framingham opened up a quick 10-5 lead before BSU came storming back to tie the set at 15-15 on a tandem block by Julie Clerc (Acushnet, Mass.) and Tayler Beck (Marion, Mass.) The Rams regained the advantage and took a 20-17 lead on a solo block by senior Nicole Donofrio (Whitman, Mass.) and maintained the advantage for the remainder of the set, closing out the frame on a Trudeau kill and a block by sophomore Jackie Friel (Centerville, Mass.).
The second set started with the two teams trading points and the Bears taking a three point lead at 17-14. The Rams came back and tied the game at 20-20 before an ace by senior Jessi Goode (Marston Mills, Mass.) gave the hosts the lead for good. Framingham extended the advantage to 23-20 on a BSU service error, but back-to-back kills by Clerc pulled the Bears to within one at 23-22. After trading several points, the Rams were finally able to close the set on kill by Trudeau to take a 2-0 advantage.
In the third set, Framingham opened up leads of 12-4 and 18-9. A service ace from Beck and back-to-back kills by Shelley DePina (New Bedford, Mass.) pulled the Bears within striking distance at 22-17, but the Rams regained control and closed the match on a kill by Friel.
Trudeau led the Rams with a team-high 14 kills and no attack errors, while Friel added six kills and three blocks. Donofrio finished the game with nine kills and a block, while Goode added 19 digs.
Framingham return to action on Saturday at 10 a.m. as they travel to Lasell College for a tri-match with the University of New England, while the Bears travel to Worcester State on Tuesday at 6 p.m.