Worcester State Drops Two at Wesleyan Tournament on Saturday

MIDDLETOWN, Conn.  - During a tri-match of women's volleyball today, Rhode Island College (3-3) took a pair of 3-1 decisions in defeating Worcester St. and Wesleyan, while Wesleyan downed Worcester St., also by a 3-1 count.

GAME ONE: Wesleyan 3, Worcester State 1

Wesleyan recovered from a 25-20 loss in the opening set to Worcester by capturing the next three by comfortable margins, 25-16, 25-16 and 25-15.  

For the Lancers, freshman Emily Carens put away a match-best 18 kills for a .208 attack percentage. She also recorded seven digs on the defensive end. Worcester State's junior Jamika Townsend logged 31 assists, along with seven digs and five kills.  Digs leaders for Worcester were senior libero Kaylee Leduc and freshman Elexi Miskiv, both with 12.  Meghan Deighan had the team's highest attack percentage against Wesleyan, posting up a .278 (7-18).

Leading the Cardinals in kills with 14 was sophomore Sarah Swenson while freshman Madeleine Lundberg was right behind with 13.  Sophomore Caroline Diemer chipped in with eight.  Setting up 40 points with her assists was junior setter Heidi Westerman.  On defense for Wesleyan, which collected 73 digs in the match, junior libero Rachel Savage logged match-high 21 digs.  Senior Abby Southam had 15 with Lundberg and Westerman both adding 12.  

GAME TWO: Rhode Island College 3, Worcester State 1

Rhode Island College and Worcester split the first two sets of their match, RIC taking the opener, 25-16, and Worcester grabbing the second, 25-19.  

The Archorwomen led from start to finish in the third set, leading 10-5 in the early going and steadily pulling away for the 25-16 win.  

The Lancers jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the fourth set, but RIC rapidly came back for a 6-5 lead and stretched it to a 12-6 edge.  Streaks became plentiful as Worcester narrowed the gap to one, 12-11, only to have RIC push back ahead, 16-11, and by as many as seven at 19-12.  Again, the Lancers made a run to cut the difference to three, 20-17, but the final five points belonged to RIC for the 25-17 match-clinching triumph.

RIC got a match-high 15 kills from senior Kelsey Lace and another 13 kills from senior Michelle Malboeuf.  Sophomore setter Abigayl White was good for 34 assists.  Junior libero Megan Armburg collected 16 digs and freshman Emily Langlais made four blocks.  For Worcester State, stat leaders were Carens with 12 kills, Townsend and sophomore Alysia Pearce both had 13 assists and Townsend also had 14 digs.

Worcester St. is back on the court Tuesday, hosting their first MASCAC matchup of the year against Salem St. at Assumption College.

WESLEYAN VS. WORCESTER ST. BOX SCORE

RIC VS. WORCESTER ST. BOX SCORE

Release Courtesy of Wesleyan Sports Information