BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting Worcester State University volleyball team battled back from a set down to post a 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-15) over Bridgewater State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) match on Wednesday evening at the Tinsley Center.

The Lancers improve to 5-11 on the season with the win and a perfect 3-0 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

Senior outside hitter Natalie Gillis (Ashland, Mass.) notched a match-high 12 kills to go along with 11 digs to lead the way for Worcester State. Senior outside hitter Leelie Tyler (Longmeadow, Mass.) added ten kills and four assisted blocks for the Lancers, while freshman setter Angela Colonis (Waterford, Conn.) checked in with six kills, 12 assists, a pair of aces and ten digs. Freshman libero Denise Hoxha (Worcester, Mass.) chipped in with 19 digs for the visitors, while senior setter Sarah Ward (Townsend, Mass.) and senior defensive specialist Brooke Lamothe (Tewksbury, Mass.) combined for 11 aces.

Sophomore outside hitter Abigail Reardon (Fairhaven, Mass.) paced Bridgewater State with eight kills and a solo block. Sophomore middle hitter Amber Arruda (Swansea, Mass.) added seven kills and three blocks (one solo) for the Bears, while junior setter Savannah Quintal (Assonet, Mass.) and sophomore setter Bethany Votta (Cumberland, R.I.) combined for 23 assists and five aces. Junior libero Victoria Caiano (Acushnet, Mass.) led all players with 21 digs.

After splitting the opening two sets, the Lancers trailed 4-3 in the third before using a 7-1 run, highlighted by a pair of kills from Tyler, to take control. Worcester would open up a 20-11 lead following a kill by sophomore middle blocker Maeve Cadogan (Wilmington, Mass.). The Bears, however, got a block from freshman right side hitter Saadia Reid (Bridgewater, Mass.) and a kill by senior middle hitter Sydney Rice (Medway, Mass.) as well as a pair of Lancer attacking errors to pull to within five at 20-15. That would be as close as the hosts would get as Worcester recorded five of the next seven points, including a kill by Hoxha and a pair of aces from Colonis.

Worcester trailed 4-1 in the fourth set before reeling off nine straight points highlighted by four kills from Gillis to jump ahead, 10-4. Bridgewater answered with an 8-2 run capped off by a Gabryella Serrano (Bridgewater, Mass.) ace to knot the score at 12-12. The Lancers then used a 6-0 run on the strength of three kills from Gillis, junior outside hitter Camryn Burgio (Quincy, Mass.) and freshman middle blocker Klea Xhemollari (Worcester, Mass.) to take control of the set. Leading 23-15, Worcester closed out the match on an ace from Gillis and a kill by Cadogan.

The Lancers finished with 16 aces as well as 11 serving errors in the match and recorded a .211 hitting percentage. The Bears posted a .115 hitting percentage and tallied seven aces with five serving errors.

The Bears begin a four-match road swing on Saturday when they travel to the University of New England for a 5:30 match with the Nor'easters. The Lancers head to MIT on Saturday for a tri-match with the host Engineers and the Pioneers of Smith College starting at two o'clock.