Volleyball falls to Johnson and Wales
- Izabela Gage and Avery Slavin
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
By Izabela Gage
Sports Editor
By Avery Slavin
Staff Writer
The Framingham State Rams were swept by the Johnson and Wales University Wildcats 3-0 in a non-conference matchup Nov. 4.
This loss brings their overall record to 15-12, while their conference record remains at 5-2 with only one conference game left in the regular season.
Captain Stella Bailey, a senior, said, “The girls definitely don’t like to lose - no one does. We really find it to be personal because we’ve worked so hard, and I’ve never been part of a team with players who have wanted to be the best with so much passion. Playing with our best effort and to the highest skill level we can is what we’re focused on.”
An unfortunate attack error by the Rams gave the Wildcats the first point of the game.
JWU used the initial momentum to swing the game in their favor, earning two kills and two service aces.
A subsequent bad set and attack error by the Rams kept the Wildcats’ early point streak going.
With JWU in the lead 7-0, junior Natalie Reynolds broke FSU’s scoring drought and put the Rams on the board with a kill, assisted by Bailey.
A kill by the Wildcats and an attack error by the Rams kept JWU ahead.
The dynamic duo of Reynolds and Bailey tallied two more points for Framingham on back-to-back kills.
The Wildcats did not let up and responded with three kills of their own, bringing the score to 12-3.
Another set from Bailey allowed Reynolds to break through JWU’s defense and earn another kill, followed by an attack error by the Wildcats.
JWU’s Bailey Koopman tallied two back-to-back kills of her own to maintain the lead, and an attack error by Framingham deepened the deficit to 16-5.
Sophomore Sarah Medeiros brought possession back to the Rams with a kill, and Framingham used this in their favor to start to close the gap.
A service ace by Bailey and an attack error by the Wildcats brought the score to 16-8.
JWU earned a point off a service error by FSU, but the Rams responded and forced an error by the Wildcats.
Johnson and Wales tallied a kill, but junior Emma Dobbins kick-started a late run for Framingham and answered with one of her own.
A block by Reynolds put another point on the board for the Rams, followed by another attack error by the Wildcats.
Junior Anneli DiVirgilio set the ball to Dobbins, who tallied a kill for Framingham.
JWU counterattacked with a kill of their own and capitalized on possession of the ball, breaking through FSU’s defense with three back-to-back kills.
With the score at 23-13, the Wildcats earned another point off an error by the Rams.
Despite the deficit, Framingham tried not to falter, and Dobbins tallied her third kill of the set.
Unfortunately, a service error by the Rams and a kill by Wildcats’ Brooke Caquelin finished the set 25-14.
Johnson and Wales took another early lead in the second set, earning points off four kills, two service aces, and three attack errors by Framingham.
A Bailey-to-Reynolds kill started the Rams’ action, bringing the score to 8-1.
The Wildcats responded with a kill of their own, followed by two service aces.
The teams switched off service errors to bring the score to 12-2.
JWU remained dominant, pushing FSU into attack errors to maintain their lead.
With the score at 14-2, the Rams found their footing.
Reynolds swung hard and found a hole in the Wildcats’ defense, tallying another kill, which happened to be her 1,000th kill in her collegiate career.
Medeiros kept the momentum, and with a set from sophomore Madysen Cedrone, she struck the ball over the net toward the back of the court, catching the Wildcats off guard.
Framingham capitalized on possession of the ball, and their defense forced Johnson and Wales into an error.
A subsequent kill by Medeiros, once again assisted by Cedrone, brought the score to 14-6.
JWU put two points on the board off a kill and a bad set by FSU, helping to maintain a 10-point lead.
The Rams were unfazed, and their front row caused two attack errors, followed by Bailey serving an ace to shrink the gap to 16-9.
A kill by the Wildcats earned them another point, but the Rams kept up the pressure and forced an error.
With possession of the ball returned to Framingham, a service ace by DiVirgilio gave the Rams another point.
After a long rally, junior Jaimee Lowe took a hard swing at the ball, which the Wildcats could not block, and Lowe earned the kill, assisted by Bailey.
Johnson and Wales carried a 19-13 lead after a kill of their own, but Framingham began to close in.
Reynolds connected on a clean swing from Bailey, cutting the margin to 20-15.
The Rams kept their momentum going as Medeiros set up Bailey for a kill, whose attack found a gap at the net.
A block error by JWU brought FSU within four at 20-16.
The Rams capitalized again on the next rally when a bad set and an attack error by the Wildcats left Framingham trailing by one, before Johnson and Wales finally broke the run.
Bailey said, “We never give up. It really doesn’t matter how far we’re down. We always strive to play the best game of volleyball possible, regardless of the score.”
Three consecutive kills gave JWU a four-point cushion at 23-19.
Bailey connected with Medeiros once again, who delivered a kill. But JWU closed the set with back-to-back points to take it 25-20.
Freshman Kristina Santiago-Alers opened the third set with a dominant service ace before JWU tied it with a kill.
Following an error by Framingham, the Wildcats pulled briefly ahead, 3-1, after a service ace.
The Rams answered with a kill by Dobbins, assisted by DiVirgilio, to stay within reach.
JWU was forced into an attack error, and Captain Carly Beaulieu, a senior, helped shift the rhythm by serving an ace to make it 4-3.
A kill by the Wildcats tied the score once again, but Reynolds responded with one of her own.
A service error by the Rams brought the score to 5-5, but a kill each from Medeiros and Beaulieu in the following rallies gave Framingham a 7-5 advantage.
Johnson and Wales didn’t let up and earned two points to tie it once again.
Medeiros remained determined and found a gap in JWU’s front row, tallying a kill of her own. Despite this, the Wildcats used a series of consecutive kills to pull ahead 13-8.
An error by the Wildcats halted their run, followed by another kill by Bailey to close the gap to 13-10.
Two kills by JWU and an attack error by the Rams brought the score to 16-10.
The Rams gained a point on a JWU service error, but they responded with a kill.
Reynolds struck hard on the next play and earned a kill to put the score at 17-12.
The teams switched off points on the next four plays, and a service ace from Reynolds pulled the Rams within four.
The Wildcats earned the next two points, and Framingham collected another point on an attack error, making it 21-16.
The Wildcats capitalized on a service error and two blocks late in the set before they broke through the Rams’ defense and brought it to match point.
Framingham gained one final point on an attack error by Johnson and Wales, but a service error on the next rally closed the set, 25-17, giving the Wildcats a clean sweep.
Bailey said despite this loss, she is always reminding the team, “It’s such a privilege to be able to play volleyball. We are truly so lucky to be healthy enough to be playing at such a high level. Keeping things positive and intentional, I think, helps keep the girls focused on the good.”
Beaulieu said as a senior, “It’s honestly bittersweet. Every time I step on the court, I try to give it everything I have, knowing that I gave it my all for my teammates, my coaches, and everyone who’s supported us and me.”
She added, “My biggest goal is to help the team finish strong and go as far as we possibly can, which is the MASCAC title. I’d love for us to end the season knowing we grew as a team, played with heart, made memories we’ll never forget, and enjoyed every single moment.”
Bailey said, “We’ve always wanted to win a championship - that’s, of course, always the goal. We have accomplished something much greater, though - something that is intangible. We’ve learned how to support each other through the hardest of times. We understand that we can only focus on what we can control. That’s a hard lesson to learn, but we’ve grown together and our team culture reflects it.”
Reynolds earned MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week Nov. 3 for the fifth time this season. She was recognized for contributing 19 kills with no errors and earning a .594 hitting percentage in the Rams’ 3-0 sweep against Mass. Maritime Oct. 28.
The Rams host the Anna Maria College Amcats for their last conference game in the regular season Nov. 7.
Bailey said, “I’m a huge believer in the idea of, ‘If you do your job, everyone else will follow.’ And if I’m having a hard time, I know my girls will support me, as I do them.
“It’s just really crucial now, as the clock is ticking, that we play at the highest level possible both individually and as a team,” she added.
