By Danielle Achin
Sports Editor
The Framingham State volleyball team celebrated their final home game of the season with a 3-0 sweep over Dean College Oct. 17.
The Rams opened up a 4-0 lead in the first set before the Bulldogs made it on the board and the score slowly crept up throughout the frame with FSU maintaining the advantage.
Both teams continued to trade off points for the remainder of the frame before the Rams claimed the first set 25-15 and took the 1-0 lead.
The game intensified heading into the second set with the Rams rallying for 5 straight points, taking the 5-0 lead.
Dean countered with 3 straight points of their own, but Framingham was on the attack and stormed back with another five points before a much needed time out was called for Dean.
Despite Dean calling for a time out, the Rams never lost stamina and continued on with fiery aggression and ran off with the 22-15 lead.
The Bulldogs managed to put 4 more points on the board before Framingham took the second set win 25-19.
Heading into the third frame, both teams were locked in determined not to let their opponent win the set.
The Bulldogs pulled a 3-0 lead at the start of the set before Framingham tied the frame 5-5. The set then continued with both teams trading points back and forth with multiple ties and lead changes.
The teams managed to tie the score at 16-16, then 18-18, 20-20, and finally 21-21.
The Rams then rattled off 3 straight points for the 24-21 lead and eventually took the frame 25-22 and the match 3-0.
With the win, sophomore Malia Shields remarked how proud she is of her team with the complete turnaround playing in the day’s game from last week's 3-0 loss against Mount Holyoke.
Shields said, “Although it was a close set, I had faith we would pull through, and we did! I think we responded well to the pressure and the intensity of the final set is what pushed us to finish strong.
“Going into tonight's game, we felt really good. There was a mix of emotions since it was the last home game for the seniors, but everyone brought a lot of good energy and I think we held onto that throughout the game,” she added.
Shields said the team currently stands second in the MASCAC Conference behind MCLA, the only conference game FSU has lost. She said her teammates are more than ready to finish the season strong together.
She said, “Although the past few games have shown different results, we don't let the scores affect us. Once the game is over, it's done. No need to dwell on it.”
The Rams are back in action when they travel to Bridgewater State for another conference match Oct. 25.