Volleyball Sinks Mass. Maritime

WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University women's volleyball team capped a five-match homestand with a three-set victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy Thursday evening in MASCAC action at John P. Brissette Court. Set scores were 25-6, 25-22, 25-14.

With the win, the Lancers improve to 7-6 overall and 2-0 in the MASCAC. They finish their homestand with a record of 4-1. The Buccaneers continue to seek their first win of the season, dropping to 0-5 and 0-2 in conference play.

The opening set was all Lancers from the get-go, as the hosts cruised to the victory. A kill from senior Amari King (Lawrence, Mass.) gave the Lancers a 4-3 lead early on, the first Lancer point in an astounding 15-1 Worcester State run to go ahead 19-4. Minutes later, a Buccaneer service error clinched the point for the Lancers.

In the first set alone, King finished with five service aces and seven digs, while senior Lauren Murphy (Taunton, Mass.) recorded six kills on just nine attempts in the set. The Lancers finished the set with an attack percentage of .385.

The second set was far closer than the first, featuring seven ties and four lead changes. With the Lancers trailing 18-16 as the set neared its end, Worcester State went on a short 5-0 burst, led by two service aces from Stephanie Chapin (Hampden, Mass.), to go ahead 21-18. Mass. Maritime would climb back in and threaten to take the set, but sophomore Madison Kuzio (Franklin, Mass.) would eventually clinch it with her lone kill of the evening.

Worcester State left no doubt in set number three en route to the victory. With freshman Brooke Lamothe (Tewksbury, Mass.) at the service line, the Lancers opened the set on a 7-0 run and never looked back. The match would eventually be clinched on a kill from senior Emily Carens (Northborough, Mass.), giving the Lancers the victory.

Carens finished the match leading all players with eight kills, followed by Murphy, who finished with seven, and freshman Natalie Gillis (Ashland, Mass.), who finished with five. Mass. Maritime's Marie Harrison (Weymouth, Mass.) paced the Buccaneers with five kills and 10 digs. King was the leading Lancer in the digs category, recording 11 on the evening.

Next up for the Lancers, they will head to MCLA next Wednesday for a MASCAC matchup against the Trailblazers. The Buccaneers will head to New York for the Ninth Annual Maritime Classic on Saturday, opening play against Merchant Marine on Saturday.

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