Falcons Fall to Lesley in Five Sets

Fitchburg, Mass.  – The Fitchburg State University women's volleyball team dropped a tough 3-2 decision to the Lynx of Lesley University in non-conference action this evening at Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 2, Lesley 3 (22-25, 25-12, 25-7, 14-25, 4-15)
Records: Fitchburg State (1-2) | Lesley (1-0)

How It Happened

1^ST SET

Both teams battled back-and-forth and were knotted at 22-22, however Lesley ended the set with an 3-0 run off the serve of libero Wing Li (Quincy, Mass.) to earn the 25-22 score.

2^ND SET

The Falcons spotted the Lynx a 5-0 lead in the second game then reeled off seven straight points to never trail again. Senior Kristina Osborne (Ashby, Mass.)  sparked the first run collecting six points on serve. After Lesley tied the score at 7-all, senior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass.) countered with another six point serve to extend the Falcon lead, earning the 25-12 set victory.

3^RD SET

In the third set, the Falcons had a complete team effort controlling the game after allowing the Lynx the opening point, then never trailed en route to the 25-7 final. 

4^TH SET

Both teams traded point for point in the fourth. The Falcons closed the gap (10-9) when Meredith Taylor (Reading, Mass.) delivered a blast from freshman Chloe Guzman (Pawtucket, Mass.). The Lynx would go on a 10-2 run before a pair of defensive errors made the score 20-13. Lesley closed out the set with a defensive error from the Falcons to force the fifth set. 

5^TH SET
Lesley opened the final frame with a 5-0 run off sophomore Tallin Goldberg (Holmdel, NJ) serve, the Falcons couldn't recover and a pair of kills from Cassidy Wygonik (Merrimack, NH) gave the visitors the 15-3 set win, and the 3-2 final.

Inside the Numbers

Lesley's Cassidy Wygonik (Madison, Conn.) and Maile Counts (Vista, Cali) led all players with 13 kills. Counts added 8 assists and four service aces, while Wygonik posted five service aces.

The Green and Gold were led by Lauren Riccardi's (Tewksbury, Mass.) 9 kills, 7 digs and one service ace.

Sophomore Jessica Peirce (Brentwood, NH) delivered 10 digs and from the back line, while Taylor dished out 11 assists, 2 aces and 3 digs.

Lesley held a 17-13 edge in service aces.

Up Next

Falcons will travel to Becker College on Thursday evening to take on the Hawks for a contest starting at 7 p.m. The Lynx will visit UMass Dartmouth on Saturday for a tri-match with Salem State starting at noon.