Falcons Upended By Bulldogs In Three Sets

Riccardi and Sylvester combine for 24 digs in non-conference setback

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University women's volleyball team returned to action this evening, suffering a tough 3-0 setback to the Bulldogs of Dean College in non-conference action at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Dean 3 (12-25, 19-25, 24-26)

Records: Fitchburg State (2-13) | Dean (7-9)

Set One

In the opening set, Fitchburg State took a 4-3 margin on a kill by senior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass./Everett) before Dean regained the lead (5-4) off a bad set. The Bulldogs took control of the first set (18-9) as junior Kait Anderson (Clinton, Conn./Clinton) connected on a kill off a set from senior Samantha Trullo (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford), resulting in the 25-12 final.

Set Two

In the second set, the Falcons raced out to a 5-3 margin off a service ace by senior Kristina Osborne (Ashby, Mass./North Middlesex), but Dean answered back to take a 13-8 following an attack error. Fitchburg State rallied (23-18) on a kill by Osborne before the Bulldogs secured the set second set as sophomore Paola Gonzalez (Southbridge, Mass./Southbridge) converted the kill for the 25-19 set two final.

Set Three

In the final set, Dean grabbed an early 9-2 advantage on a trio of kills from junior Melanie Rios-Nevarez (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico/). The Green and Gold battled back to take a 24-22 edge on a service ace by sophomore Lauren Riccardi (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury), but the Bulldogs rattled off four unanswered points, capped by a kill from Rios-Nevarez for the 26-24 set three final.

Inside the Numbers

This evening's matchup will mark just the third ever meeting between the two teams on the volleyball court with the Falcons 0-3 all-time when taking on the Bulldogs.

Dean has won the first three matchups against Fitchburg State, including a 3-0 decision on October 26, 2017 at the Parkinson Gymnasium.

The Falcons were led by Riccardi with a match-best 15 digs, four kills, one assist and two service aces, while Sylvester added nine digs, seven kills, one service ace and two blocks. Sophomore Amy Coelho (Bellingham, Mass./Bellingham) was also solid for the Green and Gold, finishing with nine assists and four digs.

For the Bulldogs, freshman Nicole Defosses (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Early Colleges) registered a game-leading 24 assists, three kills and one service aces. Rios-Nevarez chipped in with a game-best 12 kills and eight digs in the victory.

Up Next

Falcons will travel to Fisher College on Saturday to take on the Falcons for a non-conference bout, starting at 1:00 PM. Bulldogs will visit Eastern Nazarene College on Saturday for a tri-match with Mass. Maritime Academy as they take on the Lions and Buccaneers at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.