Volleyball defeats Fitchburg: Victory marks 400 career wins for Casali

By Taylor Kimmell

Sports Editor

In a conference matchup against the Fitchburg State University Falcons Sept. 30, the Framingham State University Rams cinched a quick 3-0 victory.

Overwhelming the Falcons in all three sets, the Rams improved their conference record to 4-0 and their overall record to 11-3. This places them at the top of the MASCAC.

A service ace by sophomore Kristina Santiago-Alers jumpstarted FSU’s momentum.

Fitchburg broke through for a kill on the next volley, but a service and an attack error awarded the next 2 points to Framingham.

After Fitchburg tied the score 3-3 with back-to-back kills, the Rams went on a hot streak, scoring 7 consecutive points - kills by Santiago-Alers and Captain Natalie Reynolds, a senior, and five service aces by senior Jamie Lowe.

A service error on Framingham’s end allowed the Falcons another point, but a Fitchburg service error on the next play quickly returned the ball to the Rams.

Despite another Fitchburg service error, the team managed a 4-point run, scoring on a Rams’ error, two kills, and a service ace.

A Falcons’ error ended their streak, and the Rams scored on another error and a service ace by freshman Rachel Hoerig.

Framingham’s service error on the following volley allowed Fitchburg a point. Then, the Rams scored 3 consecutive points with kills by Lowe and senior Emma Dobbins, both assisted by junior Madysen Cedrone, and a service ace by Santiago-Alers.

Fitchburg scored on a Framingham error to bring the score to 21-11, giving the Rams a 10-point advantage.

Cedrone assisted the Rams’ next two kills, one by Reynolds and the other by Lowe, to bring Framingham within two points of a first-set victory.

Fitchburg managed another kill the next play, but were unable to overcome the substantial deficit before the Rams scored their final two points of the set - one on a Falcons’ attack error and one on a service ace by Lowe. The first set ended with a score of 25-12 Framingham.

A kill by Dobbins started the second set, but Fitchburg quickly responded with a kill and a service ace for an early 2-1 lead.

A Reynolds kill, a service ace by Lowe, and a bad set by the Falcons allowed the Rams to regain a solid lead.

Fitchburg scored on a kill on the next play. Then, kills by Reynolds and freshman Mckenzie Kastner allowed the Rams to pull farther ahead.

Two Rams’ errors followed, which were offset by kills from Kastner and Captain Jamie Moniz, a senior.

Framingham had two more errors before embarking on a substantial 8-point run, scoring on six Fitchburg errors and a pair of service aces by Santiago-Alers.

Two Framingham errors allowed Fitchburg to put points on the board. Then, two Cedrone-assisted kills by Dobbins broke through. 

The Falcons put up 3 more points during the second set, but Framingham closed it out hastily, forcing four Fitchburg errors and earning points on two kills by Kastner and one by Reynolds. The second set closed 25-12 in favor of the Rams.

Framingham came out hot in the third set, scoring 5 points before the Falcons could put a single one on the board. These points came from three service aces by Santiago-Alers and a kill each by Lowe and Reynolds.

Fitchburg’s first point came from a Framingham error, followed by an error of their own on the next play for another Rams’ point.

The Rams put up an 8-point run, scoring on kills by Reynolds and Cedrone, service aces by DiVirgillio, and several Fitchburg errors.

Three Framingham errors allowed Fitchburg to gain some momentum, but kills by Reynolds, Kastner, junior Sarah Medeiros, and freshman Victoria Welzel brought Framingham's lead to 23-4.

Fitchburg forced three errors from Framingham, but with two more defensive sets by Framingham, the Rams cinched an overwhelming 25-7 victory, wrapping up the match 3-0.

This win stands as a significant moment in Rams’ volleyball history, marking Head Coach Richard Casali’s 400th win with the program.

Casali said this milestone has really allowed him to reflect on his 23-year career with Framingham State, as well as “the people and players who made it possible. I appreciate the support of our administration and staff as well as all the other athletic teams.

“Four hundred wins could not be possible without the hard work of my 20-year assistant coach, Chelle Manganello.”

Casali said winning the match in a sweep is great, but “it's the win that matters. 3-0, 3-2, it's still a win.”

The Rams undefeated streak in early MASCAC play has, according to Cassali, given the team a lot of confidence, “but it is only a start. Big challenges lie ahead. Being on top of the league now is great, but not an assurance of future victories.”

He said, “We are led by five seniors. They have been strong throughout the year and are good leaders. The younger players get energy from them and are progressing well.”

Casali said the team is determined to make it to the championship as well as the NCAA Tournament. “It doesn't matter what the score is, they don't quit. The team has fought back when down in games.”

The Rams travel to take on Dean College for a nonconference matchup Oct. 3.