Salem, Mass. – Brynn O'Neill (Danvers, Mass.) recorded a match-high 12 kills and added 10 digs as Salem State defeated Westfield State 3-1 (25-11, 14-25, 25-16, 25-17) on "Senior Night" in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Wednesday evening at Twohig Gymnasium. The Vikings up their record to 13-8 and are now 5-1 in conference while the Owls slip to 7-13 and 4-2 in the MASCAC.
Salem State opened up set one on a 5-0 run off the serve of Morgan Adams (Scotia, N.Y.). The lead increased to 10-2 as the Owls hit poorly (-.200) to start the game. The Vikings pushed towards a double-digit lead after another error by the Owls made the score 14-4. The margin grew to 20-9 following a kill by Adams before Salem State closed out the set with a 25-11 win.
Westfield State rebounded as three quick kills by Ashley Crowley (Billerica, Mass.) gave Westfield State a 5-3 lead. A kill by Severino pulled Salem State to within one at 10-9, but a 4-1 burst pushed the lead to 14-10. Three consecutive errors by the Vikings and a kill by Ainsley MacLeod (Hampden, Mass.) put Westfield State on top 20-13 before another kill by MacLeod and multiple hitting errors by Salem State gave the set to the Owls 25-14. Crowley and MacLeod combined for 10 kills in the set as Westfield State hit at a .257 clip compared to .089 by the Vikings.
The Vikings broke open a close third set building a 16-9 lead after a kill by Danielle Joseph (Waltham, Mass.). Three straight kills by O'Neill made the score 26-16 as the Vikings cruised to a 25-16 win. O'Neill finished with five kills as Salem State ended the set hitting .250.
Four straight points off the serve of Haley Reed (Goffstown, N.H.) provided Salem State with a 10-6 lead in set four. A kill by Natasha Belardo (Springfield, Mass.) and a hitting error pulled Westfield State to within 14-13. Reed and McDowell added a pair of kills each as the Vikings extended their lead to 19-13. Salem State was able to maintain their lead as consecutive kills by McDowell and one by Severino helped the Vikings clinch the match with a 25-17 win.
Chaisson contributed 23 digs while Adams finished with 32 assist for Salem State. McDowell ended the match with eight kills and seven digs for the Vikings.
Crowley had 10 kills for the Owls while Ally Rega (Chelmsford, Mass.) had 23 assists and 10 digs. Jess Haradon led Westfield State with 19 digs.
--courtesy Salem State sports info