Falcons Drop Straight Set Decision To Lyons

Riccardi paces Green and Gold with five kills and two digs 

South Hadley, Mass. - The Fitchburg State Women's Volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to the Lyons of Mount Holyoke College this evening in non-conference action from Howard Gymnasium.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Mount Holyoke 3 (9-25, 25-14, 18-25)

Records: Fitchburg State (3-17) | Mount Holyoke (6-18)

How It Happened

First Set

Fitchburg State grabbed a 3-2 edge on a kill from junior Lauren Riccardi (Tewksbury, Mass.) before Mount Holyoke responded with four straight points (6-3) as freshman Marianne Simon (Miami, Fla.) notched a kill. The Falcons cut the deficit to 8-6 on a kill by sophomore Leah Sheehan (Billerica, Mass.), but the Lyons secured the 25-9 first set triumph on a Sarah Bishop (Ashland, Mass.) kill.

Second Set

Trailing 6-2, the Green and Gold answered with kill from Riccardi, while Mount Holyoke countered with a kill by Bishop to take a 9-3 edge. Fitchburg State chipped away at the lead (22-12) on kills from Sheehan and junior Paige Anderson (Winchendon, Mass.), but the Lyons took the middle set 25-14.

Third Set

Fitchburg State knotted the score 3-3 on a service by junior Amy Coelho (Bellingham, Mass.) before Mount Holyoke responded with a Sarah Bishop kill to take a 10-6 margin. The Falcons would cut the lead to 17-12 on a kill from Riccardi and an Emily Beauvais (Greenville, N.H.) service ace, but the Lyons earned their sixth win on the season as freshman McKenna Crosby (Jonesborough, Tenn.) notched a service ace for the 25-18, third set final.

Inside the Numbers

This evening's contest marked the fifth meeting between the two teams on the volleyball court with the Falcons 0-5 all-time when taking on the Lyons

Mount Holyoke has won all five matchups with Fitchburg State, including a 3-0 decision in the last meeting on September 8, 2001

Fitchburg State was led by Riccardi with a team-best five kills, one service ace and two digs, while Coelho added five assists, one service ace and two digs

Senior Jaquelyn Manyak (Bolton, Mass.) was also solid for the Green and Gold, finishing with three assists and two digs

For Mount Holyoke, Simon netted a match-leading ten kills, two service aces, seven digs and one solo block, while Crosby chipped in with five service aces, one block and six kills

Up Next

Falcons will travel to Salem State on Saturday to take on the Vikings for a MASCAC tilt, starting at 1:00 PM. Lyons will host the Beavers of Babson College and the Gators of Sage College in a tri-match on the same date at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.