Preview: Women's Volleyball Vies For The MASCAC Tournament Crown On Saturday
Please click inside for a tournament preview of this weekend's match-up between second-seeded Worcester State and #3 Westfield State at 1 PM on Saturday.
ON THE WEB
You can follow tomorrow women's volleyball semifinal action from the MASCAC Tournament by following @wsulancers and @mascacsports on Twitter. Worcester State releases will be published approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the match.
In the morning matchup at Framingham State's Alumni Gym, the top-seeded Rams host #4 Bridgewater State at 11 AM before #2 Worcester State takes on fourth-seeded Westfield State at 1 PM.
The two winners of the semifinals will then take on each other 30 minutes after the conclusion of the second match. The winner of the MASCAC Tournament earns the MASCAC's automatic berth to next week's NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament.
EARLIER THIS SEASON
During their regular season matchup, Worcester State defeated Westfield State, 3-0 and snapped a 12-game drought against the Owls that went back to the 2004 season.
Senior Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) finished with a match-best 16 kills while classmate Amanda Lewis (Poughkeepsie, NY) dished out 33 assists. Junior Jennifer Cabral (Swansea, MA) and Kaylee Leduc (Swansea, MA) combined for 23 digs defensively.
Westfield State was paced by freshman Victoria Sutphen (Holden, MA) who registered seven kills while senior Sarah Green (Peabody, MA) and junior Shannon Shea (Chemlsford, MA) pitched in with 11 and 10 digs, respectively.
The Blue and Gold, who have are making their seventh consecutive appearance in the MASCAC Tournament, are 4-12 all-time since 2001 with appearances in the finals in 2004 and 2011.
Saturday's match is a rematch of last years semifinals which saw the Owls claim a 3-2 victory en route to a MASCAC Tournament title in 2013.
THE LANCERS
Worcester State enters the competition with a record of 22-8, going 5-1 in MASCAC action. Its their first 20-win campaign since 1986.
This past Tuesday, Jasper was named the MASCAC Player of the Year while Leduc and Cabral recieved spots on the All-MASCAC team.
Jasper leads the conference in total kills (443) and kills per set (4.39) while Leduc has the most digs in the league (430). Being one of only two student-athletes in New England with 400 or more kills, Jasper has reset the schools record and Leduc is 22 digs away from equaling the single-campaign mark.
Cabral is third in the MASCAC in total digs (292), fifth in aces (43) and 15th overall in total kills (161).
Lewis also tops the league in assists with a new single-season program standard (856) and she is second in average (8.56).
THE OWLS
The second-seeded Owls (13-20, 4-2 MASCAC) defeated #5 MCLA on Tuesday to advance to the semifinal round. On the last weekend of the season, Westfield State lost a nailbiter to Framingham State, 3-2.
Sutphen earned MASCAC Rookie of the Year accolades as she currently leads the squad with 235 kills and 40 aces. Sutphen is ranked seventh in total kills and sixth in kills per set (2.50).
Freshman Courtney Ryan (Quincy, MA) leads the squad with 510 assists Green has put up a team-best 368 digs. Ryan also has 39 aces and highlighted by 16 solo blocks, senior Carole Duquette (Feeding Hills, MA) has 36 to pace the club.
Westfield State will try to defend last years championship this weekend while also trying to hoist its fifth trophy.
REST OF THE FIELD
Framingham State, the #1 seed, checks into the tournament with a record of 21-11 and 6-0 in MASCAC play. The Rams try to capture their second tournament crown, with their last coming in 2012.
Sophomore Alycia Rackiffe (Feeding Hills, MA) is second in the conference in kills (368) and kills per set (3.32) while also leading in hitting percentage (.307) and total blocks (86).
Fourth-seeded Bridgewater State went 18-18 and 3-3 in league action. The Bears are in search of their ninth title and first since 2008.
Freshman Christina Jaros (Plymouth, MA) and junior Julie Hutchins (Bellingham, MA) are among the top five in the MASCAC in total blocks with 74 and 57, respectively.
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