Lancers Claim Split on the Day with Five Set Thriller

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Volleyball team returns to action today in a double match Saturday at Wentworth. Looking to get the kills early and grab two quick wins to put an exclamation point in the start of the season. The action first began with host Wentworth before the Lancers took on Johnson and Wales to wrap up the early afternoon action.

Final:

Worcester State: 1

Wentworth: 3

28-26, 17-25, 20-25, 16-25

Worcester would open up the first set action with three quick points  and hold the lead for the opening of the first set, but Wentworth would not let the Lancers get too far out of reach quickly tying the opening set up at 6-6. The set would see the teams go point for point until a late surge would have Worcester claim the opening set victory of a kill by junior Kaitlin Cueva (Tewksbury, MA) to claim the 28-26 set one win.

The second set would find Wentworth resetting themselves and jumping out to a seven point lead midway through set two. Worcester would fight to grab some points back but the mid set surge was the deciding factor as Leopards would tie the sets up at one a piece. The third set would see a drop back into a back and forth battle between the two teams with the Lancers holding the three point lead, but an attacking error and strong service from Wentowrth would close the gap and carry their momentum to a set three win.

That two set streak would propel the Leopards in the fourth set, as they jumped out to an early five point lead they would work hard not to concede through the services. The Lancers made a late push but Wentworth would manage to hold on for the match victory.

Cueva would lead the team in match one with 10 kills, just ahead of junior Cassidy D'Esposito (Medford, NY) with nine, while senior Angela Colonis (Waterford, CT) would continue to add to her record setting dig total, with another 20 in the match. Tway 

Final:

Worcester State: 3

Johnson & Wales: 2

19-25, 25-18, 25-16, 14-25, 15-12

Jumping right back into action for game two, Worcester would jump out to an early 4-2 lead before Johnson and Wales would begin to find their first game momentum. The early game versus the fresh legs quickly saw Worcester down five points but a four point run for Worcester would cut that lead to just a single point. he Wildcats would again find their footing though and push their lead to seven, again forcing Worcester to rally for another four point swing, but they were unable to cut in closer before Johnson & Wales put the first set out of reach. 

Set two would see a slight reverse from the first as the Wildcats would jump out early, but Worcester quickly took control and went from three points down to two points up. Johnson and & Wales would answer back with three points of their own, but the Lancers would not let them back into the set easily as they worked to grab a five point lead. While the Wildcats tried to mount a comeback the killer arm of junior Kate Sttedronsky (Sea Girt, NJ) would ensure set two went to Worcester. 

The third set would follow the flow of the second with Worcester jumping out to short leads before grabbing a four point lead mid set. The Lancers would continue to push that lead going on a 9-2 point run to grab the third set for a two sets to one lead. The fourth set saw the Wildcats jump back into action and claim the fourth set to tie it up and force the fifth and deciding set. 

The fifth and final deciding set would be a back and forth fight between the two squads but a final attacking error by the Wildcats off a block from D'Esposito and graduate student Mave Cadogan (Wilmington, MA) would seal the split for the Lancers. 

Colonis would take the kill title in match two with nine, while handing over her dig crown to first year Katherine Crateau (North Andover, MA) who edged out Colonis with 22 in the second match. 

What's Next:

Worcester State (1-1, 0-0) is back in action on Tuesday when they head to Regis College at 7pm in a non-conference battle.