Framingham State Advances To Conference Finals

By Framingham State athletics

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WESTFIELD – The third seed Framingham State University volleyball team defeated second seed Westfield State 3-2 in one semifinal of the 2021 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) 2021 Volleyball Championship Thursday night at the Woodward Center and with the victory advance to the tournament finals on Saturday.

The finals are 6 p.m. in Worcester against #1-seed Worcester State.

Westfield State’s season ends with a record of 8-21.

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INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The Owls and Rams split the first two sets laying the groundwork for a pivotal third frame. The Rams outlasted the Owls, 28-26, weathering eight lead changes and 15 ties in a back and forth set.
• The Owls responded in the fourth to extend the game but the Rams offensive combo of Valerie Sullivan (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Hailey Sanders (Franklin) took control of the final set with four kills each. 
• The Rams earned the win by scores of 18-25, 25-18, 28-26, 13-25, 15-8.

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• Sullivan finished with a match-best 23 kills on 5- attempts with a .360 hitting percentage, while she also added nine digs.
• Sanders finished the match with 18 kills on 40 attempts with three digs and three blocks.
• Morgan Failla (Providence, R.I.) dished out 57 assists in the win and picked up 14 digs.
• Brandee Thomas (North Kingston, R.I.) added 13 kills and 17 digs for the Rams while first year libero Isabel Henwood (Guaynabo, P.R.) posted a match-high 24 digs.

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• The Owls were led by Shawna and Ashley Crowley (Billerica) who had 20 and 18 kills respectively. Shawna picked up 18 digs and Ashley added 16.
• Bridgette McAndrews (Longmeadow) also picked up a double-double in the setback with 12 kills and 11 digs.
• Jessica Haradon (Mansfield.), grabbed 21 digs and Sarah Bingham (Reno, Nev.) landed six service aces.