Box Score NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Framingham State University edged the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth volleyball team in five sets during the final match of the seventh annual UMass Dartmouth Volleyball Invitational 25-21, 23-25, 25-18, 20-25, and 15-7.
The Rams captured the team championship with an unblemished record of 4-0. Sophomore middle blocker Julia Wan was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while classmate Alycia Rackliffe also earned All-Tournament honors. Wan averaged 8.5 kills per game, 12.75 digs per game, nine total service aces and three blocked shots (one block solo) for the duration of the tournament. Rackliffe generated 12.5 kills per game with a 50.5 kill percentage, four total service aces, four block solos and assisted on four.
The Corsairs went .500 in their four games in the tournament, splitting with Eastern Nazarene and Regis on Friday and defeating Norwich in the front half of today. Sophomore setter Christina Spinazola (Medway, Mass.) and junior libero Brianna Perry (Acushnet, Mass.) represented UMass Dartmouth on the All-Tournament team. Spinazola paced the UMass Dartmouth offense with 21 assists per game and 6.35 digs per game. The sophomore also contributed nine total kills and nine total service aces in the tournament. Perry led UMass Dartmouth with 28 digs per game and 10 service aces in four games.
Wan and Rackliffe led the offensive charge for Framingham State with 14 and 17 kills in the match. The middle baker had a strong performance on the backline, digging out 19 shots attempts. The outside hitter was a consistent force at the net as she converted .536 percent of her attacking opportunities. Maribeth Martin and Morgan Drew directed the offense with 17 assists each.
Perry battled the aggressive Ram offensive attack and generated 28 digs for the match. She also penned five service aces to her ledger. Sophomore Cara Butcher (East Longmeadow, Mass.) led the Corsairs with 10 kills, followed by junior Eliza Bowes (West Yarmouth, Mass.) with nine and junior Shannon Orton (Swansea, Mass.) with eight. Spinazola distributed the ball well, dishing out 31 assists for the home team.
The Rams took early control of the opening set, posting an 8-2 advantage. UMass Dartmouth rallied to tie the game at eight-all, highlighted by kills from Spinazola and Orton and a pair of service aces from Jasmine Burris (New Bedford, Mass.). Framingham State built up an 18-15 lead and never looked back.
In set two, UMass Dartmouth generated more attacks (34-29) and registered more kills (11-9) than the Rams to tie the match at one set apiece. After a kill by Butcher to bring the score to 20-18, the visiting team went on a 5-0 run to seize the third game. Wan led the streak with two of her four kills in the set.
After a back and forth battle to begin the fourth set, the host team had four different players add kills to their stat sheet. increasing their lead to 18-14. A service ace from Ram outside hitter Danielle Girard brought the score within one (18-17), but UMass Dartmouth utilized four kills and three service aces to send the match into a decisive fifth set.
Rackliffe recorded four kills to start the deciding set, to give Framingham State a commanding 10-2 advantage. UMass Dartmouth tried to fight their way back into the game (12-4), but the Rams early lead was too much to overcome.
The Corsairs fell to 2-3 on the season and will play game six of their seven-game home stand on Tuesday night against non-conference opponent Salve Regina. The first serve is scheduled for 7p.m. at the Tripp Athletic Center.
