Framingham State Posts 3-0 Shutout Over Salem State

SALEM, Mass. -- Framingham State swept Salem State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Confernence (MASCAC) volleyball match on Tuesday at Twohig Gymnasium. The Rams won by scores of 25-23, 25-18 and 25-18 to improve to 8-12 on the season and 3-1 in the MASCAC, while the Vikings slip to 4-14 overall and 1-3 the league.

Anna Szymanski (Harwinton, Conn.) racked up five kills as Framingham State held off Salem State 25-23 in a set one victory. A pair of kills by Brandee Thomas (North Kingstown, R.I.) and Szymanski staked Framingham State to an early 7-3 lead. However, back-to-back kills by Genevieve Kempster (Hopedale, Mass.) and a service error rallied the Vikings back into a 9-9 tie. The final ten points were decided with neither team garnering more than a two-point lead. An attack error gave the Vikings a 23-21 lead late, but kills by Valerie Sullivan (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Thomas tied the match before a Salem State error and ace by Hayley Gaskin (North Attleboro, Mass.) gave the set to the Rams.  Kempseter had five kills and 13 digs for Salem State in the first set.

Leading 6-4 in set two, Framingham State opened up with an 8-4 run following a kill by Thomas. Taking advantage of seven Vikings' errors and just a .026 hitting percentage by Salem State, the Rams managed to maintain a four-point lead. Szymanski's eighth kill of the night made the score 24-18 before an error by Salem State gave Framingham State a 25-18 win. 

Szymanski ripped off four straight kills as Framingham State raced out to a a 6-2 lead. Poor hitting by Salem State continued into the third set as the Vikings netted just one kill on 23 attempts. Kills by Hailey Sanders (Franklin, Mass.) and Zymanski pushed the lead to 18-9 in favor of the Rams. Trailing 24-15, Salem State cut into the deficit as three straight kills by Hana Hogan (Lancaster, Calif.), Abigail O'Connor (Gilford, N.H.) and Miranda Quinlan (Billerica, Mass.) brought the Vikings to within 24-18, but it was not enough as Framingham State finished off the set to earn the victory.

Szymanski finished with 13 kills and eight digs while Sanders posted 11 kills and three blocks for the Rams. Gaskin chipped in with 36 assists and eight digs, while Isabel Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) had a game-high 38 digs. Kempster  (25 digs) and O'Connor finished with seven kills apiece for Salem State. Eva Haralabatos (Melrose, Mass.) accumulated 23 assists and Pamela Diaz (Lynn, Mass.) posted 20 digs.