Falcons Clipped By Trailblazers In MASCAC Quarterfinal
Mirra sets program record for career digs
North Adams, Mass. – The sixth seeded Fitchburg State Women's Volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to the third seeded Trailblazers of MCLA this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Amsler Gymnasium.
The Basics
Score: Fitchburg State 1, MCLA 3 (15-25, 11-25, 25-20, 13-25)
Records: Fitchburg State (5-15, 2-5 MASCAC) MCLA (16-7, 5-2 MASCAC)
How It Happened
First Set
MCLA grabbed an early 6-1 edge on a kill from Chloe
Garber (Eagle River, Ak.) before Fitchburg State cut
the lead to 9-5 as sophomore Samantha
Mirra (Burlington, Mass.) registered a kill. The
Falcons continued to battle as junior Emily
Gelinas (Westfield, Mass.) notched a service ace
(16-10), but the Trailblazers secured the first set 25-15 as
Anais Badio (Las Vegas, Nev.) netted a kill.
Second Set
The two teams traded points to start the second set (3-3) as
freshman Stephanie
Sardella (Billerica, Mass.) collected a kill, but
MCLA would take a 14-6 edge on a kill from Garber. The Green
and Gold trimmed the lead to 19-10 when Mirra notched another
kill before the hosts took the second set 25-11 with
Abigail Cummings (Lyman, Maine) delivering a
service ace.
Third Set
The Falcons opened the third set with a 5-2 margin on a pair of
kills from sophomore Sariah Dyer
(Raynham, Mass.) before the Trailblazers answered,
knotting the score at 16-16. Fitchburg State forced a fourth
set however when Sardella notched a service ace and Dyer added
a kill for the 25-20 third set triumph.
Fourth Set
The Trailblazers went on a 5-0 run to start the fourth set, but
Fitchburg State countered (12-5) as Sardella and Mirra notched
kills. MCLA responded with a 6-1 stretch, capped by an
Ella Walter-Goodspeed (Auburn, Wash.) service
for the 19-7 lead. The Falcons answered with a kill from senior
Meredith
Taylor (Reading, Mass.) to reduce the deficit to
21-12 before the Trailblazers closed out the match, resulting
in the 25-13, fourth set final.
Inside the Numbers'
This evenings contest marked the 17th meeting between the two squads on the volleyball court with Fitchburg State 9-8 all-time when taking on MCLA
Fitchburg State was led by Mirra with a team-best eight kills and 11 digs, while Dyer added seven kills and three digs. Gelinas was also solid for the Green and Gold, collecting a team-leading 16 assists, one kill, two service aces and 14 digs.
For MCLA, Garber registered a match-best 15 kills, two service aces, 18 digs, one solo block and two blocking assists, while Badio chipped in with 11 kills, one service ace, five digs and two solo blocks.
With her 11 digs, Fitchburg State sophomore outside hitter Samantha Mirra (Burlington, Mass.) set the Falcons all-time program record for digs in a career with 421, surpassing the previous mark of 412 held by former Falcon Jessica Peirce.
Up Next
Falcons concluded their 2022 regular season with an overall record of 5-15 and a 2-5 mark within conference play.