Falcons Rally Past Amcats
Gelinas collects 14 assists to lead Green and Gold
Fitchburg, Mass.
– The Fitchburg State University Women's
Volleyball Team registered a 3-1 triumph over the Amcats of
Anna Maria College this afternoon in non-conference action from
the Fuller Activities Center.
The Basics
Score: Fitchburg State 3, Anna Maria 1 (19-25, 25-14, 25-23. 25-22)
Records: Fitchburg State (3-3, 0-1 MASCAC) | Anna Maria (1-5, 0-0 GNAC)
How It Happened
First Set
Anna Maria opened a 9-6 advantage after a defensive miscue
before Fitchburg State rallied to take a 14-13 edge on a kill
from junior Emily
Gelinas (Westfield, Mass.). Trailing 17-15, the
Falcons trimmed the lead to 17-16 on a Stephanie
Sardella (Billerica, Mass.) kill, but the Amcats
secured the win with a service ace from Ryann Hassett
(North Oxford, Mass.) for the 25-19 first set triumph.
Second Set
Fitchburg State raced out to a 10-4 lead in the second set with
a Samantha
Mirra (Burlington, Mass.) service ace. Anna Maria
cut the deficit to 17-10 on a service error, but the Green and
Gold would take the set, 25-14, capped by a Mirra service ace.
Third Set
The Amcats grabbed a 9-1 margin with junior Julia
Tarantino (Pembroke, Mass.) service ace before the
Falcons rattled off six straight points, highlighted by three
service aces from Sardella. The hosts battled back to knot the
score at 23-23 following a defensive miscue, but the Falcons
held on for the 25-23 victory as Sardella notched the set
clinching kill.
Fourth Set
The Green and Gold started the fourth set with an 8-3 lead on a
kill from freshman Iyana Lopez
(Lowell, Mass.), but Anna Maria reduced the lead to
12-7 as Jana Hunt (Woodstock, Ont.) notched a
kill. The Amcats went on a 6-0 run late in the set to make the
score 24-22, capped by a Hassett kill before Fitchburg State
secured the match with freshman Gabrielle
Griffiths (Bedford, Mass.) picking up a kill,
resulting in the 25-22 victory.
Inside the Numbers
This afternoon's contest marked the 13th meeting between the two squads in on the volleyball court with the Falcons 7-6 all-time when taking on the Amcats
Anna Maria had won five of the last six matchup with Fitchburg State, including a 3-1 decision last season.
Fitchburg State was paced by Sardella with a match-leading eight kills, two assists, six service aces and 12 digs, while Mirra added eight kills, one assist, three service aces and eight digs. Gelinas was also solid for the Falcons, collecting 14 assists, four kills, one service ace and two blocking assists.
For Anna Maria, Hassett led the way eight kills, two service aces, one dig, one solo block and three blocking assists, while junior Sarah Burt (Plymouth, Mass.) chipped in with six kills, one assist and service ace.
Up Next
Falcons return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Lasell University to take on the Lasers in non-conference action, starting at 7:00 PM. Amcats will host the Lynx of Lesley University on Wednesday for a non-conference tilt at 6:00 PM.