Jasper Resets Single-Season Kills Mark In MASCAC Quarterfinal Win Over Salem State

Paxton, MA --- Junior Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) tallied a game-best 12 kills to go with three digs as she helped pace fourth-seeded Worcester State to a 3-0 triumph over #5 Salem State in the quarterfinal round of the MASCAC Women's Volleyball Tournament at Anna Maria's Fuller Center.

The Lancers avenge last year's 3-1 setback that saw the Vikings (5-13) upset their opponents in the quarterfinals. WSU defeated the visitors in three straight sets by scores of 25-12, 25-19 and 25-23. 

WSU (9-18) moves on to the MASCAC Tournament semifinals to take on top-seeded Westfield State on Saturday at 11 AM. Should they prevail in the first match of the day, they will vie for the championship at 2 PM. Salem State ends their season at 5-13 overall.

Senior Megan Brown (Dartmouth, MA) was just shy of her seventh double-double of the campaign with 10 kills and nine digs while sophomore Meghan Deighan (Lynnfield, MA) added seven kills. Sophomore Kaylee Leduc (Swansea, MA) and senior Vicki O'Brien (Canton, MA) both finished with 12 and 10 digs, respectively.

Second-year Gina Battista (W. Springfield, MA) dished out her best three-set assist total of the season with 33 helpers.

Jasper now has 342 kills on the season to reset the previous mark that had been set by former standout Lauren Saylor during her freshman campaign (337) in 2006.

The Vikings were paced by freshman Jerika Santiago (Methuen, MA) and sophomore Emily Peay (Lebanon, CT) who both ended the night with seven kills and four digs apiece as Peay chipped in with five block assists. Senior Mackenzie Carpenter (Peabody, MA) was also solid for the visitors with 24 assists and seven digs.

After the Lancers easily won the opening set, Salem State used a late rally to attempt a comeback in the second.

Trailing 20-14, the Vikings utilized a 5-1 run to slice into the deficit to make it a 21-19 contest. But after some strong serving by Brown, the hosts scored the last four points with two kills by Jasper, WSU took the second set.

The third frame proved to be a back and forth affair that saw nine lead changes and 12 ties. The Vikings came out strong with the 23-21 edge before the Blue and Gold closed out the game with a 4-0 surge.

Jasper tallied the go-ahead kill and then Deighan added the exclamation point to take the final stanza.

Women's Volleyball single game, season and career statistics were first recorded starting in the 2003 season.

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