FALCONS Face Pine Manor, Newbury in Tri-Match

FALCONS Face Pine Manor, Newbury in Tri-Match
Post first win after 15 year hiatus

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University women's volleyball team earned a split decision in an afternoon tri-match with Newbury College and Pine Manor College in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at Parkinson's gymnasium.

The Basics

Match 1:

Score: Fitchburg State University 3, Newbury 0 | 25-16, 25-14, 25-11
Records: Fitchburg State University (1-2) | Newbury (1-6)

Match 2:

Score: Newbury 2, Pine Manor College 3 | 25-13, 15-25, 16-25, 25-20, 15-8
Records: Newbury (1-7) | Pine Manor (1-2)

Match 3:

Score: Fitchburg State University 0, Pine Manor 3 | 19-25, 17-25, 20-25

Records: Fitchburg State University (1-3) | Pine Manor (2-2)

Match 1:

How It Happened

Senior Serene Pease (Ashland, Mass.) and freshman Jessica Peirce (Brentwood, NH) combined for 14 service aces against the Nighthawks. Pease also controlled the backcourt contributing a team-high 11 digs, while Peirce added 8 digs. Offensively, senior Kathryn McGroarty (Quincy, Mass.) fed the Falcons' front line with 6 assists. Junior Kristina Osborne (Ashby, Mass.) paced the Green and Gold with 5 kills on a .417 hitting percentage.

Fitchburg State University won the sets 25-16, 25-14, and 25-11.

Senior Julie Leggett (Longview, Wash) led Newbury with a stat line of 13 kills, 2 assists and four digs. Senior Marlen Reynoso (Springdale, Ark) paced the backline with 12 digs and 15 assists.

Inside the Numbers

Just second meeting between Fitchburg State and Newbury. Green and Gold 2-0 when taking on the Nighthawks.

First meeting between Falcons and Nighthawks since September 7, 2002

Match 2:

Trailing two games to one, the Pine Manor Gators rallied taking the last two games to down Newbury College 3-2 in non-conference action at Fitchburg State University on Saturday afternoon.

The Gators were led by sophomore outside hitter Viyanni Johnson's (Aviano, Italy) team-high 11 kills, and game-high eight service aces. Setter senior Ashley Whiteshield (Seward, Alaska) dished out 15 assists while sophomore Alexa Leon (El Centro, Calif.) added 30 digs in the victory.

Newbury had four players in double-figures for digs, Julia Leggett (13) had a team-high followed by Venezia Delgadillo (12), Stephanie Rheaume (11) and Marlen Reynoso (11).  Leggett and Rheaume paced the offense with 13 and 11 kills respectively.

Match 3:

Viyanni Johnson continued her dominance in game two for the Gators posting 9 kills, 9 digs, 2 aces and a block in the three game sweep of FSU. Ashley Whiteshield had half of Pine Manors total assists with 14 and Alexa Leon added 22 digs.

Falcons Jessica Peirce dished out 20 of the teams 44 assists, while Annie Woolley (Malden, Mass.) added 2 blocks.  Kristina Osborne recorded 4 aces, 7 digs and one block on the afternoon for the hosts.

Pine Manor evened their record at 2-2 with the sweep of Newbury and Fitchburg State.

Inside the Numbers

Four meeting between Fitchburg State and Pine Manor on the volleyball court with Falcons 1-3 when taking on the Gators.

First time two schools have meet since October 8, 2002.

Up Next

The Falcons open the MASCAC season on Tuesday when they host Bridgewater State University at 7pm on Tuesday. Newbury travels to Rivier University on the same night for a 7pm match, while Pine Manor heads to Salem State University on Thursday at 7:00pm.