Falcons Battle Rams And Lyons In Tri-Match

Sardella paces Falcons with 18 kills

Framingham, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Women's Volleyball Team dropped a pair of 3-0 decisions to the Rams of Framingham State and the Lyons of Mount Holyoke this afternoon in a tri-match, hosted by Framingham State

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Framingham State 3 (15-25, 24-26, 22-25)

Records: Fitchburg State (3-12, 0-5 MASCAC) | Framingham State (14-10, 4-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

First Set
Fitchburg State grabbed an early 4-3 edge on kills by freshman Stephanie Sardella (Billerica, Mass.) and sophomore Samantha Mirra (Burlington, Mass.) before Framingham State went on a 7-3 run with freshman Kate Pertrosso (Attleboro, Mass.) collecting a pair of kills to make the score 10-7. The Falcons trimmed the deficit to 11-10 on a Sardella service ace, but the Rams secured the first set 25-15

Second Set
The Rams took a 6-3 margin on a Kiana Jones (Scarborough, Maine) kill. The Green and Gold countered to take a 17-15 advantage with sophomore Sariah Dyer (Raynham, Mass.) notching a kill, but Framingham State rallied to regain the lead 23-20 as junior Haley Sanders (Franklin, Mass.) collected a solo block. Fitchburg State knotted the score (24-24) with Sardella registering a kill before the host closed out the set with the final two points for the 26-24, second set triumph.

Third Set
The Green and Gold grabbed a 12-11 margin on a kill from junior Emily Gelinas (Westfield, Mass.) before the Rams answered an 8-4 stretch with freshman Stella Bailey (Wrentham, Mass.) and junior Anna Szmanski (Harwinton, Conn.) notching kills. Fitchburg State reduced the lead to 24-22 on a Sardella kill, but Szymanski netted a kill for Framingham State to close out the match.

Inside the Numbers

This afternoon's contest marked the 20th meeting between the two squads on the volleyball court with Fitchburg State 5-15 all-time when taking on Framingham State

Fitchburg State was led by Sardella with match best 14 kills, one service ace, 12 digs and one blocking assist, while Mirra added seven kills, one service ace and 12 digs. Gelinas was also solid for the Green and Gold, collecting three kills, 12 assists and six digs.

For Framingham State, junior Hailey Sanders (Franklin, Mass.) finished with 13 kills, four solo blocks and one blocking assist, while Bailey chipped in with two kills, 13 assists and four digs.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Mount Holyoke 3 (19-25, 18-25,10-25)

Records: Fitchburg State (3-13, 0-4 MASCAC) | Mount Holyoke (8-10, 1-6 NEWMAC)

How It Happened

First Set
Mount Holyoke took an 8-4 margin as senior McKenna Crosby (Jonesborough, Tenn.) before Fitchburg State rallied to take a 16-15 advantage as Sardella collected three straight service aces. The Lyons answered back (23-17) with senior Marion Abeja (Kumi, Uganda) notching a kill, leading to a 25-19, first set victory.

Second Set
The Lyons opened up a 9-2 lead on a kill from newcomer Sadie Duffrin (Minneapolis, Minn.), but the Falcons cut the deficit to 17-10 with Sardella picking up a kill. The Green and Gold battled back to make the score 20-16 on a Dyer service ace before Mount Holyoke earned the 25-18, second set triumph on an Abeja kill.

Third Set
Mount Holyoke grabbed a 10-4 advantage on a Abeja service ace before Fitchburg State responded with kills from Mirra and Sardella to reduce the deficit to 10-6. The Green and Gold continued to battle (15-10) as Sardella notched another kill, but the Lyons collected a 25-10, third set victory on a kill from freshman Elle Rimando (Mililani, Hawaii)

Inside the Numbers

This afternoon's contest marked the sixth meeting between the two squads on the volleyball court with Fitchburg State 0-6 all-time when taking on Mount Holyoke

Fitchburg State was paced by Sardella with a match-best six kills, two service aces and 14 digs, while Dyer added four kills and one service ace. Gelinas was also strong for the Green and Gold, notching two kills, five assists, one service ace and eight digs.

For Mount Holyoke, Rimando finished with a team-leading six kills, while Abeja chipped in with six kills, one assist, three service aces, nine digs and two solo blocks.

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Wednesday as they host the Buccaneers of Mass. Maritime Academy for a MASCAC tilt, starting at 6:00 PM.