Buzzards Bay, Mass.— Framingham State University has earned the top seed in the 2012 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Championships, which are scheduled to begin with quarterfinal round action on Thursday, November 1st and move to both semi-final and championship round play on Saturday, November 3rd at the Athletic & Recreation Center in Framingham, Mass.

Framingham State and second-seeded Bridgewater State University have earned byes into the semi-final round, as the MASCAC championships have expanded from a four team to a six team format this season. Thursday's quarterfinal round slate will see three-time defending MASCAC tournament champion and third-seeded Westfield State University host sixth-seeded MCLA at the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass., while fourth-seeded Worcester State University will entertain fifth-seeded Salem State University in the other quarterfinal contest at Lancer Gymnasium in Worcester, Mass., with both matches beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The winner of the Worcester State-Salem State quarterfinal will face Framingham State in Saturday’s first semi-final at 11:00 a.m. EDT, and the second semi-final contest between Bridgewater State and the Westfield State-MCLA winner follows at 1:00 p.m. EST. The two semi-final winners will meet for the 2012 MASCAC Championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships approximately 30 minutes after the second semi-final contest.

Framingham State enters the post-season after notching a 22-9 overall mark and a perfect 6-0 MASCAC slate under Head Coach Richard Casali, as the Rams are led by junior outside hitter Andressa Fernandes (Framingham, Mass.), the reigning MASCAC Player of the Year who leads the league with 408 kills while chipping in with 300 digs. Sophomore setter Kassandra Jermyn (Auburn, Mass.) has registered 763 set assists for Framingham State, which has also received 73 service aces from freshman outside hitter Danielle Girard (Tivoli, N.Y.).

Bridgewater State recorded 11 regular season victories and a 5-1 MASCAC mark under Head Coach Liz Morris, as the Bears are led by junior outside hitter Danielle Dean (Gilford, N.H.), who has 182 kills and 370 digs to date and junior setter Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.), who has collected 655 set assists. Westfield State, which has nine overall triumphs and a 4-2 conference slate under Head Coach Fred Glanville, is paced by junior outside hitter Julia Warner (Lee, Mass.), who has 240 kills and 244 digs, while freshman setter Stana Wheeler (Sunderland, Mass.) has registered 505 set assists for the Owls.

Worcester State posted 12 regular season victories and finished with a 3-3 conference mark under Head Coach Bernie Chase, and the Lancers are led by sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, Mass.), who has 220 kills to date, as well as sophomore setter Amanda Lewis (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), who has 620 set assists. Salem State recorded five overall triumphs under Head Coach Bruno Tramontozzi, and the Vikings are paced by junior outside hitter Jazmin Santos (Lawrence, Mass.) and senior setter MacKeznie Carpenter (Peabody, Mass.), who have collected 148 kills and 427 set assists, respectively, while MCLA rounds out this year’s field after posting 10 overall regular season victories under Head Coach Amanda Beckwith, as the Trailblazers are led by junior middle hitter Julia Christian’s (Cohoes, N.Y.) 218 kills and junior outside hitter Kelley Bryant’s (West Springfield, Mass.) 422 digs.

Westfield State captured the 2011 MASCAC tournament title with a 3-0 victory over Worcester State in the championship match.