Trailblazers winning streak is snapped by Owls 3-1

Westfield, MA- The Westfield State volleyball team received 14 kills apiece from Brianna Starkey and Hanna Simpkins as the Owls rallied past the MCLA Trailblazers 3-1 this evening in the MASCAC opener for both teams.  MCLA saw its five game winning streak snapped as they are now 5-4 overall and 0-1 in the MASCAC.  The Owls improve to 5-5 overall and sit at 1-0 in the conference.

MCLA took the opening set 28-26 but the Owls steadied the ship with a 25-17 second set win to tie things up.  The Owls would ride that momentum and take the third set 25-18 before holding off MCLA 25-23 in the fourth and clinching set.

Starkey and Simpkins were tough to handle all night as they combined for 28 of the Owls 45 kills on the night.  Both got their 14 kills on 31 total attacks.  Lizzie Taylor racked up 28 digs for the Owls to pace the defense.  Westfield had five players record double figures in digs.  Natasha Belardo had a nice night finishing with 7 kills and 19 digs for the victors.

MCLA was led once again by Kelly Moczulski.  She notched a double double of 15 kills and 12 digs for the Trailblazers.  She had a whopping 56 attacks in the match however.  Ahna Schlaefer collected 9 kills and 15 digs for the Trailblazers as she narrowly missed her own double double.  Madison Jayne ended with 8 kills and 16 digs.

Houa Xiong ended with a match best 41 digs for MCLA while Natasha Stewart set another career high with 40 assists.

MCLA is back in action on Sunday when they travel to Delhi for a tri match.