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Posted: Oct 26, 2024

MCLA Comes Back to Defeat Salem State in Five

MCLA Comes Back to Defeat Salem State in Five
Video Recap Box Score
Game Leaders
MCLA
K: Elizabeth Brown - 28
B: Elizabeth Brown - 2
D: Ezmeralda Albright - 38
SA: 3 Players (#3, #5, #19) - 2
Salem St.
K: Presley Shairs - 21
B: Presley Shairs - 4
D: 2 Players (#3, #5) - 19
SA: Eva Haralabatos - 5
Team Stats
Full stats

SALEM, Mass. -- MCLA lost the first two sets before rallying to defeat Salem State in five sets (19-25, 27-29, 25-23, 25-21, 16-14) in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) match on Senior Day at Twohig Gymnasium on Saturday. The Trailblazers improve to 8-14 and 3-2 in the MASCAC while the Vikings stand at 2-18 and 0-5 in the conference. Salem State honored seniors Dawn Eisnor (Medford, Mass.) and Eva Haralabatos (Melrose, Mass.) before the match for their commitment and dedication to the Salem State volleyball program.

How it Happened

  • Three aces by Haralabatos spearheaded a set one win for the Vikings. Leading, 5-2 the Vikings opened up a 13-7 advantage following a kill by Haley Phillips. Salem State kept MCLA at bay, building a seven-point lead before winning, 25-19.  
  • Eight kills by Presley Shairs helped Salem State hold on for a 29-27 victory in set two. The Trailblazers opened up a 10-4 lead after back-to-back errors by the Vikings. A kill by Caroline Schmaling gave MCLA a 14-9 lead before Salem State rallied, tying the match at 17-all after an ace by Shairs. The two exchanged points from there on out as the two teams tied for the 12th time in the set, 27-27 before the Vikings finally won after a service error by MCLA and kill by Bella Coccia.
  • The Trailblazers opened up a large lead in set three, as Salem State hit just .045% in the set. Trailing by eight, Salem State made it close drawing to within 24-23 after a kill by Shairs before a service error by the Vikings clinched the win for MCLA.
  • Elizabeth Brown helped MCLA to an early 8-4 lead in set four. The Vikings cut into the deficit and took a 17-16 lead after a kill by Ariana Barrows. However, the Trailblazers scored six straight points and after back-to-back kills by Brown, iced the set after a bad set by Salem State.
  • Six kills from Brown in set five propelled MCLA to the come-from-behind victory. The Vikings temporarily took an 8-6 lead, but the Trailblazers tied the score and went ahead by two, 14-12 following a kill by Brown. Back-to-back kills by Shannon O'Brien and Beth Harris closed the set and match for MCLA. 

Inside the Numbers:

  • Brown led all players with 28 kills and contributed 19 digs while Ezmeralda Albright had a match-high 38 digs for MCLA.
  • O'Brien topped the Trailblazers with 21 assists.  
  • Shairs produced a team-best 21 kills and added four blocks for Salem State.
  • Barrows and Kailey Roche each had 19 digs and Eva Haralabatos and Celia Carbone both produced 19 assists and 12 digs.

Up Next:

Salem State goes to Fitchburg State for another MASCAC match on Wednesday, October 30 @ 6:00 pm.