Women's Volleyball Falls in Home Opener, 3-1 to Framingham State

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Framingham State 3 – Emmanuel 1 (25-16, 25-14, 24-26, 25-15)

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (1-2)
Framingham State University Rams (4-0)

Location: Boston, Mass. – JYC Gymnasium/Andy Yosinoff Court

Date: Tuesday, September 6, 2022

THE LEAD – In the home opener of the 2022 season for Saints women's volleyball, EC forced Framingham State to earn Tuesday's result, as the Rams took down the Saints, 3-1, on Tuesday night in non-conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the opening set, Framingham State's opening 10-3 run set the tone early. The Saints managed to close within four at that point, but another Rams run later in the set had them ahead by double digits, on their way to a 25-16 first set win.
• In the second set, the action played out similar to the opening set as FSU used another 10-3 scoring run, this time in the middle of the set, to take a 20-11 edge. The Rams led by as many as a dozen before Framingham State first-year Kate Petrosso (Attleboro, Mass.) finished off the set with a kill, claiming the second 25-14.
• Despite a 9-1 start from FSU in the third, it was the Saints that harnessed some mid-set momentum, preventing a straight sets sweep with a third set win. EC answered the 9-1 start with a 10-3 run of their own, cutting the deficit to 12-11. Despite the Saints never leading in the set until the end while fending off match point at 24-22, Emmanuel's win of the final four points of the set, capped by a kill from senior Kerry Shea (Tewksbury, Mass.), lifted them to a 26-24 third set victory.
• The Saints managed to roll that momentum into the fourth set, claiming five of the first seven points. However, the Rams managed to steady the ship, fighting back to gain a 13-12 advantage. From that moment, FSU stepped on the gas, winning 12 of the final 15 points, capped off with a game-winning ace from sophomore Isabel Henwood (Guaynabo, P.R.), as Framingham State took the fourth 25-15.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Rams junior Anna Szymanski (Harwinton, Conn.) led all players with 16 kills while hitting .200 from the floor. The junior outside hitter added 10 digs for the double-double.
• Junior Hailey Sanders (Franklin, Mass.) finished with nine kills and led the team with a .400 attack percentage (min. 10 attacks).
• Sophomore Malia Shields (Brockton, Mass.) ended the night with 13 digs and a match-high five service aces.
• Five different Rams players finished in double figures in digs on the night, led by Henwood, who finished the four-setter with a match-best 16 digs.
• For the Saints, Shea led EC with nine kills while matching a team-high with 10 digs.
• Juniors Sasha Hyacinthe (Stoughton, Mass.) and Seana Phillips (Middleboro, Mass.) had eight kills apiece.
• Senior Julia Daggett (Hinesburg, Vt.) matched Shea in digs, finishing the match with 10.

UP NEXT

• The Saints have a week off from play and return next Tuesday, Sept. 13, welcoming Fisher College to the Yawkey Center for a 7:00 p.m. match.
• Framingham State heads back home for a match on Thursday, Sept. 8 against Western New England University at 7:00 p.m.