Semifinal 1 Box Score | Semifinal 2 Box Score | Championship Box Score

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Led by tournament MVP Alycia Rackliffe's 20 kills and 18 digs, the Framingham State Volleyball team defeated the MCLA Trailblazers 3-0 this afternoon in the championship match of the MASCAC tournament.  With the win, the Rams clinch the conference's automatic bid into next week's NCAA tournament and improve to 25-8.  MCLA falls to 23-10 and will await an ECAC bid on Monday.

The Rams advanced to the title game with a semifinal win earlier in the afternoon, 3-1 over Westfield State while the Trailblazers got the best of Bridgewater State in four sets, 3-1. 

The victory for the Rams avenged and earlier season setback to MCLA in October.  Framingham asserted themselves in the opening set after MCLA tied the set at 18-18 on an Allison Clark kill.  From there, the Rams would outscore MCLA 7-3 to close out the set as Annie Deloid hammered home the final set point.

The second set was back and forth as the Rams held an 18-13 advantage before MCLA came storming back.  Following a timeout, they ran off an 11-3 run that put them at set point leading 24-21.  The Rams wouldn't fold however as Rackliffe closed the set with four straight kills to give the Rams a narrow 26-24 win to put them up 2-0 heading into the third set.

The third set was tight as well until the Rams finally put away the Trailblazers.  With the score at 17-16 in favor of Framingham, they got a kill from Sarah Leonard and Rackliffe to go up 19-16.  MCLA squeezed out a point to close within 19-17 and again got within two at 21-19, but the Rams had the answer.  Rackliffe had a pair of kills and they clinched the match on an attack error from the Trailblazers.

Rackliffe was outstanding notching a game best 20 kills to go with 18 digs.  Julia Wan added 9 kills for the Rams.  Leonard set up the offense to the tune of 30 assists, while four Rams earned double digit digs.  Rackliffe's 18 was a team best but she was joined in double figures by Annie Deloid (15), Leonard (15), Danielle Girard (14), and Wan (12).

For MCLA, Clark finished with 11 kills and 15 digs.  Courtney Parent had 15 assists and Beatrice Lechler added 12.  Brittney Pihl had a game best 31 digs and Angelica Perfido had 17.  

Courtesy of MCLA Sports Information