Volleyball sweeps Fitchburg in conference match

By Taylor Kimmell Asst. Sports Editor

By Antonio Machado

Copy Editor

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

The Framingham State Rams swept the Fitchburg State Falcons 3-0 in a conference matchup Oct. 1. This victory increases the team’s win streak to five, with the two most recent matches being conference wins against Worcester and Salem. Freshman Kristina Santiago-Alers served the first ball of the game, with Fitchburg returning the ball and putting the first point on the board. Framingham quickly fought back, earning points on two kills by junior Natalie Reynolds and a kill by Captain Stella Bailey, a senior. Several more errors by the Rams allowed the Falcons to even the score 5-5 before sophomore Madysen Cedrone stole back the lead with a kill, assisted by Bailey. Fitchburg matched Framingham’s pace, executing two service aces and a kill to combat a service ace from Bailey and two kills from Cedrone and junior Emma Dobbins. A kill each by sophomore Sarah Medeiros and junior Jamie Moniz as well as two more by Reynolds kept the Rams in the lead for the next few plays before the Falcons fought back to tie the score again at 16-16. A kill by Fitchburg and another by Moniz tied the score again on the next play. However, following another kill by Cedrone, Framingham held the lead for the remainder of the set, with kills from Moniz, Medeiros, and Reynolds as well as a service ace by Captain Carly Beaulieu, a senior, bringing the score to 25-20. The second set opened with a kill by Reynolds on an assist by Bailey, starting the Rams off on a high note. The dynamic duo of Bailey and Reynolds collaborated on two more kills, keeping pace with the Falcons. Fitchburg pulled ahead on the next few plays, tallying three kills and a service ace. The teams kept a consistent pace, with Fitchburg holding the lead until kills from Medeiros, Reynolds, and Cedrone and a service ace from Reynolds allowed Framingham to pull ahead 13-12. Two Fitchburg errors added points to Framingham’s side of the scoreboard, causing the exhausted Falcons to take a much needed time out. Unfortunately for Fitchburg, the errors continued to pile up, allowing Framingham to capitalize on plays and add more points to the board. Bailey assisted a kill by Moniz, deepening the deficit of the second set for a score of 22-15. Junior Anneli DiVirgilio contributed to the score with two perfect service aces before an error by Fitchburg on the next play ended the set, with Framingham winning by a landslide of 25-15. The Falcons struggled to lift off at the beginning of the third set, leading to a 2-0 headstart for Framingham after multiple errors from Fitchburg. However, Fitchburg quickly regained their footing following a kill and an attack error from Framingham, matching the Rams’ pace and bringing the score to a tie. Each team fought diligently for control of the lead with kills from Reynolds, Cedrone, and Medeiros, all assisted by Bailey, matching each of Fitchburg’s own, bringing the score to 5-5. Fitchburg tallied another kill after a block error from Moniz, who retaliated with two kills of her own, both assisted by Bailey, which propelled Framingham into the lead. After two attack errors from the Falcons, the Rams found their pacing and began to widen their lead with a kill from Dobbins, assisted by Cedrone, and two service aces from Bailey, bringing the score to 12-6. The Falcons combated Framingham’s volley of points with two kills, but attack and service errors kept the Rams in a 15-8 lead. An attack error from the Rams and a service ace from Fitchburg helped the Falcons regain momentum, until they were disrupted by a service error. The Rams responded to the Falcons’ efforts to catch up with a service ace by Beaulieu and a kill by Reynolds, assisted by Bailey. Fitchburg refused to allow Framingham to dominate, responding with two kills of their own and giving the Rams a six-point lead. Reynolds, assisted by Bailey, offset the Falcons’ offense, but two errors from the Rams helped Fitchburg close the gap. A kill from Fitchburg only ignited the Rams’ dedication to winning, leading to a kill by Cedrone and an error from the Falcons, widening Framingham’s lead. Following an additional exchange of kills, an error from Framingham earned Fitchburg a point. But the Rams stayed adamant in their march toward victory, with Moniz contributing the final kill of the set on an assist from Bailey, ending the set 25-17. This win improves the team’s conference record to 3-0 and their overall record to 10-3, placing the Rams second in the conference. Bailey said she hopes this is just the start of the team’s success this season. “We talked a lot in preseason and during the offseason about what type of team we want to be both on the court and mentally. The girls aren't here to mess around - we're here to win.” Beaulieu said such a high placement in the conference is “definitely a confidence booster. It gets us prepared for the teams that we’re going to be playing. “We’re going to play hard teams like Bridgewater and Westfield, and I think it gives us more drive,” she added. Medeiros said, “Being 3-0 in the conference at this point definitely sends [other teams] the message that we are not a team that should be overlooked.” Bailey said, “The team and I have a strong desire to beat every team we play, especially teams in the MASCAC. We've been working so hard in the gym and on the court. We all know that our hard work will get us to the number one spot! “We want every game to be our best game, to keep on pushing us to a higher level of play. We have teams that are traditionally very tough opponents that we are about to play, and we are just ready to get in and fight. Good games are what we live for,” she added. Santiago-Alers said she hopes the Rams’ success shows their opponents that “we’re the best in the league.” Santiago-Alers’ performance during the last set of conference matches earned her MASCAC’s Rookie of the Week award. Santiago-Alers said she feels earning the recognition “demonstrates my hard work. I’ve been working really hard to improve my game and help the team. I feel really happy that my work is being recognized.” Bailey contributed 29 assists, 10 digs, four service aces, and a kill during the match against Fitchburg. Beaulieu added seven digs and two service aces. Beaulieu said the team was able to draw upon some strong points from last week’s matches. “Our defense was good. If our defense is on and we’re able to get [the ball] to Stella, that’s when our offense can be on as well.” Beaulieu said she and Bailey are grateful to be role models for the younger members of the team. “It’s a matter of being able to look at the person next to you and know that they’ve got you. … It’s good for the girls to have someone to look up to - a lot of the girls look up to Stella, too,” she added. Santiago-Alers said, “We have a really good team bond. We have good chemistry, and I feel like with every win, we keep learning and we keep working hard to improve our game.” Coming into the doubleheader this weekend, Medeiros said it will be important for the team to play clean and aggressive, and “not let them get a lead on us. “It will be important to play hard on our side of the net regardless of what’s going on on the other side of it,” she added. The Rams will face off against Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and the University of Saint Joseph in an away doubleheader Saturday Oct. 4.