Volleyball advances to MASCAC semi-finals with 4-set victory over Fitchburg State

North Adams, MA- The MCLA Volleyball team took a 4-set decision from Fitchburg State tonight at the Amsler Campus Center 25-15, 25-11, 20-25, 25-13. With the win MCLA improves to 16-7 (5-2 MASCAC) and advances to the semi-final round of the MASCAC Tournament where they will travel to #2 seed Westfield State on Thursday evening. With the loss Fitchburg State finishes its season with a 5-15 (2-5 MASCAC) mark.

The Trailblazers got off to a strong start in the opening set jumping out to a 14-6 lead forcing a Falcon timeout after a 3-point run that featured kills by Anais Badio and Julia Graham. MCLA kept up the pressure and Fitchburg State was not able to get any closer than seven points as the Trailblazers would go on to win the set 25-15.

It was more of the same in the second set and this time it was back-to-back kills by Elizabeth Brown and Chloie Garber to make it 13-6 that would lead to a Falcon timeout. MCLA would close out the set on a 12-5 run to go up 2-0 in the match.

Fitchburg State refused to go away quietly and went toe to toe with MCLA in the fourth set. Neither team had a lead of greater than three points until a Trailblazer attack error put the Falcons up 20-16. The Trailblazers would trim the lead to one at 20-19 following a Shannon O'Brien service ace but the Falcons would hold on with a Sariah Dyer kill giving Fitchburg State the set, 25-20.

MCLA would bounce back in the fourth set jumping out to an early 7-1 lead before pulling away from the Falcons leading by as many as thirteen at 20-7. From there the Trailblazers would cruise to a 25-13 fourth set win and take the match 3-1.

MCLA was led by Chloie Garber with 15 kills and 18 digs, while Anais Badio (11 kills), Elizabeth Brown (9 kills, 13 digs), Ellie Walter-Goodspeed (27 digs) and Shannon O'Brien (44 assists) all had a strong match.

Fitchburg State was led by Samantha Mirra (8 kills, 11 digs), Emily Gelinas (14 digs, 16 assists) and Stephanie Sardella (6 kills, 13 digs).

MCLA will travel to Westfield State to take on the #2 seed Owls on Thursday evening at 7pm in the semi-final round of the MASCAC Tournament.