Women’s Volleyball Sweeps MCLA for fourth Straight Win

WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University's junior teammates Amari King (Lawrence, Mass.) and Emily Carens (Northborough, Mass.) combined for 31 kills and 18 digs as the Lancers' blanked MCLA 3-0 in a Thursday evening Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup inside Lancer Gymnasium.

THE BASICS

September 28, 2017

Lancer Gymnasium

Score: Worcester State 3, MCLA 0

Records: Worcester State (9-6, 3-0 MASCAC) | MCLA (4-12, 1-2 MASCAC)

1^ST SET

Worcester State showed no mercy in the first set, as Megan Leavens (Storrs, Conn.) was on the service to start and helped her team to a 16-0 run - including four aces from the junior libero herself. MCLA finally broke the nil score on a service error from Leavens to put the score at 16-1. The Trailblazers scored two more points on kills from Brooke Queripel (Palmer, Ark.) and earned the other three of the set on Worcester State attack errors. However, Worcester State pushed through and concluded the set with a score of 25-6 on a kill from King. In the first set alone, Worcester's Stephanie Chapin (Hampden, Mass.) and Carens collected three kills apiece and recorded a .600 attack percentage. The Lancers, as a team, notched a .296 kill percentage in the first set.

2^ND SET

The second set was the closest of the night as each team logged an over. 200 kill percentage (Worcester, .218, MCLA .244). Each team traded points in the first half of the set, as there were eight ties. The last tie was at 11-11 when Queripel scored point. Worcester State jumped ahead to a four point lead on kills from Carens and King, and held the 4-plus point advantage until MCLA's Sara LeFreniere (Becket, Mass.) notched three back-to-back kills on assists from Mele Enomoto (Wailuki, Hawaii) for a 22-19 score. The teams battled back-and-forth, and MCLA came within one on a service ace from Enomoto. However, King tallied the final point on a kill, resulting in the 25-23 win for the Lancers.

3^RD SET

The Lancers sparked a 3-0 lead to begin, however, MCLA fought back and got within one on kills from Queripel. Worcester State went on a bender shortly after, extending their lead to nine (13-4) on kills from King, Marissa Proia (Framingham, Mass.), and Allie Nolan (Melrose, Mass.). MCLA's Queirpel logged three service aces and a kill from Maggie Allen (East Patchogue, Mass.) brought them within six. Worcester State did not allow the Traiblazers to get within less than six throughout the remainder of the game and concluded the game on a King kill at 25-16. King and Carens combined for 14 kills, while Nolan led the set with 12 assists and Leavens pinched in 11 digs. For the visitors, Brianne O'Rourke (Piseco, N.Y.) and LaFreniere notched four kills apiece, while Natasha Stewart (North Andover, Mass.) dug up 10 balls.

COUNT ME IN

• Worcester State's King and Carens both came up one dig short of a double-double as they tallied 16 and 15 kills, respectively, and each punched in nine digs.
• The Lancers' Nolan helped the attack, dishing out 33 assists and two kills of her own for a .667 attack percentage.
• Leavens notched a game-high 17 digs and also recorded game-high honors in service aces (5) for the Blue and Gold.
• MCLA's attack was led by Queripel who had 10 kills and two service aces. O'Rourke collected six kills, while LaFreniere followed with five.
• Steward assisted 10 balls, while Enomoto led the defense with 18 digs.
• Overall, Worcester State held a .287 attack percentage, while the Trailblazers stood at .087.
• The Lancers held a 43-25 advantage in kills, and 10-4 edge in block assists.

UP NEXT

The Trailblazers are back in action tomorrow (Sep. 29) when they travel to Southern Vermont for a 7 p.m. match. This Saturday (Sep. 30), the Lancers travel to Salve Regina to take part in the Fall Festival Weekend, where they will square up against the Seahawks and the Wildcats of Bay Path in Newport, R.I.