Volleyball Declaws Lyons in Straight Sets

WESTFIELD, Mass.  – The Westfield State women's volleyball team defeated Mount Holyoke in straight sets Thursday night on the road in non-conference action.

Sophomore Ashley Crowley (Billerica, Mass.) and senior captain Brianna Starkey (Rockland, Mass.) led the Owls with 9 kills apiece. Setter Ally Rega (Chelmsford, Mass.) finished with 30 assists in the winning effort, and senior libero Lizzie Taylor (Medfield, Mass.) tacked on 27 digs.

The Owls jumped out to an 8-2 advantage early in the first set and never looked back, winning it decisively by a score of 25-18.

In set two, the Lyons took the early 7-4 advantage and did not surrender the lead until a Lyons attack error knotted the set up at 12-12. From there, the two teams would exchange points back and forth, with neither squad leading by more than a point until the Owls took the lead 20-18 off another Lyons attack error. Westfield would go on to win the set 25-20 thanks to a huge block by Brianna Starkey.

Westfield State yet again held a 5-2 advantage in the beginning of the third set, and used that momentum to roll to a 25-14 victory, with the Lyons never coming within three points of the Owl lead.

With the win, the Owls move to 3-5 on the season, while the loss bumps Mount Holyoke to 2-5.

Up next, Westfield State travels to New England College for a doubleheader on Saturday with host NEC and Northern Vermont.