Lancers Hold on for Crucial Fifth Set Win over Buccaneers

Worcester, MA- After nearly a week away from action the Worcester State Volleyball team (6-15, 2-1) is back in conference action tonight as they play host to Mass. Maritime Academy on Brissette Court. The Lancers are looking to work on solidifying their seeding for the post season early in conference action by grabbing another win tonight.

Final

Worcester State: 3

Mass. Maritime: 2

(25-21, 25-13, 16-25, 25-27, 15-13)

How it Happened:

The Lancers came into this conference match at third place with a game in hand while Mass Maritime Academy sat currently in fifth place but a win for the Buccaneers would see the two teams essentially switch places. The Bucs would lose the first point of the set after junior Katie Cueva (Tewksbury, MA) got her first kill of the game. Worcester would find themselves down six points quickly in the set. They would retrieve a very difficult serve to win a point that would see junior Cassie Millea (Orange, CT)  serving leading the rally to close the gap with six straight points. The set would end with a quick set to graduate student Maeve Cadogon (Wilmington, Mass) from senior Megan Bardis (Sterling, Mass). The Lancers would win the first set 25-21

The second set would open up with Worcester starting where they left at the end of the first set. The Lancers held the Buccaneers to just under six points during the first 25 available points. Mass Maritime would go on a 7-point rally to force the score 23-13. Senior Angela Colonis (Waterford, CT)  would fake a kill attempt to loft the ball in between two defenders with the match point being won after junior Jillian Gross (Millville, MA) collected a loose ball to keep the ball in play winning the second set 25-14.

The third set would find the Buccaneers bouncing back with their backs against the wall. Mass Maritime would win the race to five points and win many of the early rallies to claim a large lead. Mass Maritime would avoid the sweep and win the set 25-16. 

The fourth set would start with the Buccaneers getting the opening point while the Lancers would get their first point of the set courtesy of a Cadogan kill. Colonis would match her by getting an early kill to tie the game up at 8-8. Mass. Maritime would win the race to 15 but this time the Lancers were only within a one point margin, staying close on their heels. Cueva would get the kill that would see her team hit 15 points.  Junior Cassidy D'Esposito (Medford, NY) would account for 4 kills in the fourth set, while the Buccaneers though would be the first to get set point in the match but Worcester would score two points to force the two point over 25 win, which Mass. Maritime was the first to achieve. 

The fifth and final set would open up with Buccaneers serving and two early errors would see the score tied 1-1 early on. Worcester would win the race to 5 after two successful Colonis kill attempts. Junior Kate Stedronsky (Sea Girt, NJ) would match her captain by grabbing two kills of her own. A final timeout would be enough for the Lancers to cool their heads and Stedronsky would get her fourth kill of the 5th set to win the match for the Lancers. 

Millea would lead the team with 19 digs, while Cueva and Stedronsky would each have 11 kills on the night.

What's Next:

 Worcester State (7-15, 3-1) again has a few days break before returning to action on October 30th when they welcome Framingham State for their final home match of the season, which will also see the team honor their senior class starting at 7pm.