Falcons Defeated By Hawks In Three Sets
Peirce finishes with match-best 26 digs in non-conference setback
Leicester, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University women's volleyball team returned to action this evening, dropping a 3-0 decision to the Hawks of Becker College in non-conference play at the Leicester Gymnasium.
The Basics
Score: Fitchburg State 0, Becker 0 (18-25, 15-25, 18-25
Records: Fitchburg State (1-3) | Becker (3-1)
How It Happened
1st Set
The two teams traded points to start the opening set before Fitchburg State took a 4-3 advantage following a service ace by senior Kristina Osborne (Ashby, Mass./North Middlesex). Becker regained the lead for good, rattling off six straight points (9-4) capped by a kill from junior Morgan Gould (N. Attleboro, Mass./Tri-County), resulting in the 25-18 set one final.
2nd Set
The second set started off much like the first as both teams traded points again with the Falcons knotting the score 7-7 after a point from sophomore Amy Coelho (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham) off a set by Osborne before the Hawks secured the second set, taking a 17-10 margin off a serve by freshman Joanna Bampi (Peabody, Mass./Peabody Veterans Memorial) for the 25-15 set two final.
3rd Set
Fitchburg State raced out to an early 9-1 lead after seven straight points off serves by sophomore Jessica Peirce (Brentwood, N.H./Exeter). Becker battled back to take a 16-14 edge on a on a service ace by senior Kayla Dupree (North Bergen, N.J/Bronx Science) en-route to a 25-18 victory in the third set to close out the match.
Inside the Numbers
This evening's contest marks the fourth meeting between the two schools on the volleyball court with the Falcons 2-2 all-time when taking on the Hawks.
Fitchburg State won the first two matches against Becker College with the Hawks earning a 3-0 victory in the last meeting on September 7, 2017 at the Parkinson Gymnasium.
Becker was paced by junior Olivia McGuinness (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy) with a match-best 20 assists and 12 digs, while Bampi added 17 digs and two service aces.
For Fitchburg State, Peirce finished with a match-leading 26 digs and three service aces, while sophomore Lauren Riccardi (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury Memorial) chipped in with 16 digs.
Osborne was also solid for Green and Gold, registering six kills, four service aces, two digs and one assisted block.
Becker held a slim 11-9 margin in service aces for the contest.
Up Next
Falcons will take on the Engineers of WPI and the Huskies of Southern Maine on Saturday in a tri-match at WPI, starting at 1:00 PM. Hawks will travel to Mass. Maritime on Saturday to take on the Buccaneers for an 11:00 am start.