Lancers Split in Final Tri-Match of the Season

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Volleyball team (8-17, 4-3) compete in their final tri-match of the season as they head for a rematch with Smith College on their home court and face off with the Curry Colonels in their action packed weekend.

Final

Worcester State: 0

Smith: 3

Final

Worcester State: 3

Curry: 1

How it Happened:

Despite falling 3–0 (16–25, 13–25, 10–25 in the opening match of the final tri-match weekend of the season for the Lancers), Worcester showed determination and flashes of strong play throughout the match as they continued to build momentum heading into postseason competition.

Worcester State came out competitive in the opening set, trading points early behind smart setting from junior Michelle Iannacito (Bronx, NY) and strong net play from senior Cassidy D'Esposito (Medford, NY). D'Esposito anchored the Lancer defense with two solo blocks and added a pair of kills to help Worcester keep pace with the Pioneers through the midway stages. First-year standout Reece Connors (Fresno, CA) and sophomore Rylee Valstyn (Watertown, MA) connected for a kill that knotted the score at 13–13 before Smith closed out the frame.

In the second set, Worcester's attack started to find rhythm as Connors and senior Kaitlin Cueva (Tewksbury, MA) each delivered multiple kills to keep the offense moving. Iannacito continued to direct the attack efficiently, tallying seven assists in the afternoon, while sophomore Katherine Crateau (Tewksbury, MA) provided a spark at the service line with two aces. The Lancers' hustle on defense, led by digs from senior Cassandra Millea (Orange, CT) and senior Sara Carter (North Attleboro, MA), kept several long rallies alive and showcased Worcester's grit.

The third set featured more balanced play from the Lancers, with Cueva finishing strong by notching two of her three kills in the frame. Worcester also earned a pair of service aces, one from Millea and another from Crateau, as they continued to pressure Smith with aggressive serving and improved defensive positioning.

Worcester State closed out their neutral-site matchup on a strong note Saturday afternoon, defeating Curry College 3–1 (25–19, 25–20, 24–26, 25–11) in a solid team performance at Ainsworth Gymnasium.

The Lancers opened the second match with poise, erasing an early Curry lead behind key plays from Connors and Valstyn. Worcester used a balanced attack and solid serving to claim the first set 25–19, highlighted by a late run fueled by kills from Connors, senior D'Esposito and Carter.

Set two saw Worcester keep its composure through several early ties before pulling away midway through the frame. Connors continued to direct the offense efficiently, while Carter and Cueva added timely kills to push the Lancers ahead 2–0 with a 25–20 win.

Curry fought back in a competitive third set that featured multiple lead changes. Despite service aces from Valstyn and Iannacito, the Lancers narrowly fell 26–24. However, Worcester immediately responded in dominant fashion in set four. Behind a blistering .609 hitting percentage, the Blue and Gold rolled to a 25–11 clincher, powered by a string of kills from D'Esposito, Connors, and Valstyn, plus back-to-back service aces from Crateau..

Connors led Worcester State's balanced offense with nine kills, four aces, and 11 digs, while D'Esposito tallied eight kills and three blocks at the net. Valstyn added four kills, three aces, and two blocks, and Iannacito set the tone with 15 assists, six digs, and three service aces. Crateau chipped in with 12 digs and two aces in the win.

As a team, Worcester State hit .185 with 16 service aces and 50 digs, showing depth and consistency across the lineup. The Lancers now improve to 9–18 overall and will look to carry this momentum into their next matchup as they continue to build toward postseason play.

What's Next:

Worcester (9-18, 4-3) hosts their final non-conference match of the season next Tuesday when they welcome the Keene State Owls to campus for a 6pm first serve.