Vikings Claim Final Playoff Spot With 3-1 Victory Over Fitchburg State

SALEM, Mass. -- Salem State claimed the final Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) playoff spot with a 3-1 victory over Fitchburg State on "Senior Night" at Twohig Gymnasium. The Vikings won by scores of 25-14, 25-23, 16-25 and 25-22 to improve their record to 6-18 on the year and 2-5 in conference. The Falcons slide to 2-20 and 1-6 in the league.

Salem State honored seniors Genevieve Kempster (Hopedale, Mass.), Danielle Sheehan (Walpole, Mass.), Miranda Quinlan (Billerica, Mass.) and graduate-student Michelle Le (Woburn, Mass.) in a pre-game ceremony for their dedication and commitment to the Vikings' volleyball program.

Salem State opened the match with a 25-14 victory in set one. Back-to-back attack errors gave the Vikings an 11-4 lead following consecutive service aces by Genevieve Kempster (Hopedale, Mass.). Kills by Abigail O'Connor (Gilford, N.H.) pushed the lead to 16-10 before a service ace by Eva Haralabatos (Melrose, Mass.) made the score 23-13. Danielle Sheehan (Walpole, Mass.) secured the win with her third kill of the set.

The Vikings held off Fitchburg State by two points in a closely played second set. Tied 15-15 the Falcons took a one-point lead after an ace by Samantha Mirra (Burlington, Mass.). A kill by Leah Sheehan (Billerica, Mass.) made it a two-point game before Salem State rallied for six straight points highlighted by a service ace from Pamela Diaz (Lynn, Mass.). A kill by Mirra and an error by Salem State drew Fitchburg State to within a point twice, but Miranda Quinlan (Billerica, Mass.) closed out the set with a kill.

Set three opened with a 5-1 run by the Falcons off the serve of Mirra in set three. Salem State closed the gap to 12-10 after an ace by Diaz. However, a 6-2 run by Fitchburg State after an ace by Alissa Olmsted (Ashby, Mass.) gave the Falcons some breathing room. Fitchburg State scored the final five points of the set with Lauren Riccardi (Tewksbury, Mass.) earning the final point with a kill. 

The Vikings built a 14-10 lead in set four following an attack error by Fitchburg State. A kill by Haralabatos made the score 18-12 before O'Connor's ninth kill of the night increased the lead to 20-13. Two kills by Mirra and an attack error helped the Falcons rally late, pulling within 23-22, but consecutive errors by Fitchburg State clinched the set and match for the Vikings 25-22. 

Sheehan totalled eight kills and 17 digs for the Vikings while Kempster finished with seven kills, 21 digs and five aces. Haralabatos produced 24 assists and 13 digs while Diaz added four aces and 22 digs. Le finished with 12 digs.

Mirra led Fitchburg State with a team-high 10 kills and 20 digs. Meredith Taylor (Reading, MAss.) had 15 assists and 10 digs while Olmsted contributed with 16 digs.