Owls Topple Vikings 3-0

SALEM, Mass. – Westfield State swept Salem State, 3-0 after a hard-fought 30-28 third set win, which saw Salem State fend off four straight service-points by the Owls before losing by two. Westfield State jumps to 5-8 on the year and 2-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Vikings are now 3-8 and 1-2 in conference.

The Owls committed just two errors over the first two sets, hitting an impressive .600 in the first set and .609 in the second. Ashley Crowley served eight straight points for Westfield State in set two, as the Owls jumped out to a 15-4 lead. Ashley Crowley and Shawna Crowley combined for five kills during the stretch. Leading 20-9, Westfield State closed on a 5-1 run a as Ashley Crowley's third kill of the set secured the win.

Despite being behind, 2-0 Salem State battled back, taking an early 9-5 lead in set three as a pair of kills by Presley Shairs and Abigail O'Connor put the Vikings on top. However, the Owls cut into the lead, pulling to within 13-12 following a kill by Shawna Crowley.  Three straight points by the Vikings extended the lead to 16-12, but Westfield State behind the serve of Ashley Crowley scored six points in a row as the Vikings committed three straight attacking errors. Trailing 19-17, Salem State once again came back to take a 23-20 lead after another kill by O'Connor. A kill by Ashley Crowley and two errors by Salem State tied the set again as the two teams exchanged points before the Owls clinched the match with the set's 30^th point.

Ashley Crowley and Shawna Crowley combined for 20 kills and 17 digs with Ashley Crowley contributing five aces. Julia Dangel-Garcia – 17 assists and Morgan Dority - 16 assists contributed to the Owls' attack.

Presley Shairs led Salem State with 11 kills and five digs. Ariana Barrows and Kailey Roche each contributed eight digs while Roche finished with a match-tying lead of 17 assists.