WESTFIELD, Mass. – In a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference battle between the league's only remaining undefeated teams, Westfield State women's volleyball defeated Worcester State in straight sets (25-20, 25-23, 25-15) on the road Tuesday night, led by a team-high eight kills from first-year Lauren Carnes (Westfield, Mass.).
The Owls improve to 4-0 in the conference, and now own sole possession of first place in the league with three conference games remaining. Westfield also advances to 4-1 in the month of October. The Lancers fall to 3-1 in the MASCAC and 9-13 overall.
Westfield closed the first set by scoring five of the last seven points with Carnes piling up four kills within that span to close the first frame with a victory.
In the second set, both teams exchanged four-point scoring outbursts, then traded points with the set even at 11 midway through. The Owls opened followed by tallying eight of the next 11 points, capped off by consecutive kills by Bridgette McAndrews to make it a 19-13 Owls lead.
The Lancers would find a late scoring run of their own and eventually tied the set at 22 apiece after recording seven of eight points. Sarah Bingham (Reno, Nev.) halted the run with a kill, then a Worcester attack error moved the set to game point. The Lancers scored the next point on an Owls attack error, but Bingham punctuated the set with another kill to move Westfield to a two sets to none lead.
The Owls ran away with the third set after on the service games of Allie Hill (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) and Olivia Harris (Massapequa, N.Y.) opened up a 17-11 lead. After a Worcester kill, the Owls extended the lead to nine points with Morgan Dority (Walpole, Mass.) delivering a kill to make it 22-13 Owls. Julia Bartiet (Cheshire, Conn.) added a kill, then a ball handling error and attack error from the Lancers ultimately handed the Owls a sweep.
Over their last three games against MASCAC opponents, the Owls have won nine of the last ten sets after defeating the Lancers who were previously undefeated in league play entering the contest. The two teams played earlier in the season in a designated non-conference game where Worcester came out the victor in four sets.
The Owls connected on 37 kills in the match with Carnes leading a balanced attack with eight kills. McAndrews and Bingham were close behind with seven kills with McAndrews adding 19 digs and Bingham supplying a game-high three aces.
Julia Dangel-Garcia (Ashland, Mass.) registered 15 assists with Dority adding 11 helpers. Michaela O'Connor (Shrewsbury, Mass.) led the team with 20 digs.
Angela Colonis (Waterford, Conn.) led Worcester in kills (six) and assists (12) while also tallying ten digs. Maeve Cadogan (Wilmington, Mass.) and Cassidy D'Esposito (Medford, N.Y.) each compiled five kills. Camryn Burgio (Quincy, Mass.) recorded a game-high 23 digs.
Westfield State will return home to host a tri-match on Saturday beginning at 11:00 A.M. as the Owls host Bridgewater State in a MASCAC game from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. The Owls will then face Bay Path University at 3:00 P.M. after the Wildcats play the Bears in the middle game at 1:00 P.M.