Volleyball takes down NEC in non-conference match
- Izabela Gage and Taylor Kimmell
- 11 hours ago
- 6 min read
By Izabela Gage
Sports Editor
By Taylor Kimmell
Asst. Sports Editor
The Framingham State Rams traveled to New England College Oct. 21 and overtook the Pilgrims 3-1 on their home court in a non-conference match.
This win improves the team’s overall record to 14-8.
The Rams jumped straight into action, earning the first point of the match on a kill by junior Natalie Reynolds with an assist by Captain Stella Bailey, a senior.
Two kills by the Pilgrims, as well as an attack error on Framingham, earned NEC the lead.
After an attack error by the Pilgrims, sophomore Madysen Cedrone tied the game 3-3 with a kill, assisted by Bailey.
Junior Jaimee Lowe forced two more attack errors from NEC, while junior Jamie Moniz and sophomore Sarah Medeiros contributed with kills.
Still, the Pilgrims were able to pull ahead, despite a kill by Moniz and two attack errors.
With a kill by junior Emma Dobbins, assisted by junior Anneli DiVirgilio, the Rams took back the lead 12-11.
Three kills by Reynolds, two by Dobbins, and one each from Bailey and Moniz increased Framingham’s lead, bringing the score to 21-16.
Moniz and Dobbins each contributed to the score with another kill, and, following an attack error by the Pilgrims, Medeiros sent a hard return over the net which the team was unable to return, winning the Rams the first set 25-19.
The Rams started the second set on the right foot with a kill by Cedrone.
Unfortunately, attack errors by FSU and kills by the Pilgrims earned NEC the lead.
However, kills by Cedrone and Reynolds earned the lead back for Framingham.
Several lead changes ensued over the next few plays before NEC took a commanding 17-13 lead.
Kills from Cedrone, Dobbins, and Reynolds evened the score 18-18.
After FSU pulled slightly ahead on a kill by Reynolds, the Pilgrims stole back control of the game with a kill and a service ace.
A kill by Medeiros tied the game 21-21, but a kill from NEC turned the set in their favor, tallying two kills and earning points on two attack errors to win them the set 21-25.
NEC earned the first three points of the third set off two service aces and an attack error by FSU.
Despite this, the Rams didn’t falter. Dobbins and Reynolds tallied a kill each, closing the gap to 3-2.
The Pilgrims deepened the deficit after a service error by the Rams, followed by a kill and another service ace.
The score was brought to 6-4 after a service and attack error by NEC.
Attack errors by Framingham proved costly, as the Pilgrims racked up points, with the Rams only being able to tally one kill by Lowe.
With NEC being in the lead 14-5, Moniz and the Pilgrims switched off kills for the next four plays.
The Pilgrims tallied two more points before momentum swung in favor of the Rams.
After an attack error and a bad set by NEC, a kill by Reynolds and two service aces by Beaulieu, Framingham had started to claw their way back with a score of 18-12.
The Rams let up a point after an attack error, but they didn’t lose sight of fighting for winning the set.
A kill from Cedrone gave FSU possession of the ball, and NEC struggled to hold their position, giving points to the Rams off bad sets and attack errors.
Reynolds tallied a service ace, which the Pilgrims responded to with a kill.
Subsequent kills by Medeiros and Dobbins helped the Rams to stand just one point away from the lead, 22-21.
NEC tried to stay on top, earning a point off an attack error, but three attack errors of their own gave Framingham a 24-23 lead.
Dobbins closed the set with a kill, winning the set for the Rams 25-23.
Medeiros said, “Our ability to come back from point deficits speaks a lot to our team’s character and our unwillingness to give up. Despite being down 18-7 in the third set, we all came together and decided we would clean up our play and take the set back.
“Our energy on the bench and court is also a major factor in us being able to pull through in difficult circumstances,” she added.
The Rams came to the fourth set with determination, pressuring the Pilgrims’ offense into attack errors, which gave Framingham a 3-0 lead.
Freshman Kristina Santiago-Alers earned a subsequent service ace to deepen the deficit, but NEC remained vigilant and tallied two points off attack errors by FSU.
Reynolds made a kill, but the Pilgrims responded with a service ace and a kill of their own.
Cedrone didn’t let their points go unanswered, earning a kill.
Following a bad set by NEC, Lowe served an ace and helped Framingham to an 8-6 lead.
After both teams switched off points for the next couple of plays, the Pilgrims closed in on the Rams, with two attack errors and a service ace.
Lowe earned another kill to give the Rams some breathing room, but NEC didn’t let it go unanswered and earned one of their own.
The Rams and the Pilgrims exchanged possession of the ball for the following points, and with the score tied at 17-17, NEC took the lead with a kill and an attack error.
Framingham didn’t lose motivation, though, and after two kills from Medeiros and a service ace by Bailey, the Rams earned back the lead 20-19.
After another subsequent lead change due to two kills by NEC, each team earned a service error, bringing the score to 22-21.
The Pilgrims tried to deepen the deficit after another kill, but the Rams’ offense remained strong. A kill by Dobbins and a service ace by Santiago-Alers tied the score once again.
NEC earned a point off a service error, but Reynolds responded with her 18th kill of the match, bringing the score to 24-24.
An attack error by the Pilgrims put the Rams in the position to come out on top, and Reynolds tallied her last kill, ending the set with a score of 26-24 and earning the 3-1 win for Framingham.
Reynolds said she is happy with her contributions to the win, “as it’s very important we keep building momentum at this point in the season. It was huge for us to win this game as we look to carry over this momentum to our next conference match against Westfield.”
Though they won the match, the Rams tallied 31 errors, contrasting with the Pilgrims' 28.
Reynolds said NEC had a good front line for blocking FSU’s attacks. “Just looking for those open spots on the court and staying aggressive helped me break through them. It took some time to figure out what exactly would work against them, but once we did, it helped us stay consistent on the offense.”
Medeiros said, “I think all of our hitters did a great job finding the floor when it counted most. I feel like we all connect very well with our setters. There is always communication between our hitters and setters about adjusting sets or strategizing what plays would make the most sense given the circumstances we are up against.”
Bailey contributed 44 assists, 19 digs, two kills, and two service aces in the four-set win.
Reynolds said, “It’s not too often middles get upwards of 50 total attacks during one game, so we are so lucky to have such a great setter who is able to find her hitters anywhere on the court.
“Moving the sets around and keeping the other team guessing and on their toes helped us tremendously. We were consistent on defense as well, which opened up multiple attacking opportunities,” she added.
The Rams faced the Owls on their home court Oct. 23, and fell to them 3-0. Their conference record now stands at 4-2 and their overall record is now 14-9.
The Rams host Gordon College and Plymouth State for a non-conference doubleheader Oct. 25.
Medeiros said the team’s biggest focus is to “keep playing cohesively as a team and to reach our full potential.”
She added, “We’ve played a lot of great volleyball recently, most notably in our game against the Coast Guard Academy. By playing these tough teams, we’re challenging ourselves to compete at a very high level, which is essential preparation for big games.”
