Owls Place Four Players on All-Conference Teams
Jess Haradon selected MASCAC defensive player of the year
Westfield, Mass. – Westfield State seniors Jess Haradon (Mansfield, Mass.) Ashley Crowley (Billerica, Mass.), and Shawna Crowley (Billerica, Mass.) were all selected to the 2021 MASCAC All-Conference first team. Haradon also received the MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Sophomore Bridgette McAndrews (Longmeadow, Mass.) placed on the second team in her first collegiate season.
Haradon secured the MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year award after piling up 448 digs, good for second in the MASCAC and first on the team. She also contributed 40 assists (2nd on the team) and 32 service aces. Haradon has been a defensive anchor for the Owls throughout her four-year career, posting the third-most digs in Westfield State history with 1,296. Her 3.65 digs per set also ranks fourth all-time.
Ashley Crowley turned in a well-rounded season, ranking second on the team in kills (229) and total blocks (58) while compiling the third most digs (191). She also led the team in hitting percentage (.176). In her three-year career, Crowley totaled 80 matches with 576 kills, 317 digs, and 149 total blocks. In the MASCAC semi-final against Framingham, she registered a career-best 18 kills for a single match.
Ashley's sister Shawna Crowley finished the season strong after missing seven games early in the season due to injury. Her numbers did not falter as she posted the third-most kills (195) with a team-high 2.44 kills per set. She also added 176 digs and 19 service aces. It was the second time in which Crowley made the All-Conference teams as she was selected to the second team in her sophomore season. Over a three-year span, Crowley played in 63 games and totaled 397 kills, 360 digs, and 33 service aces.
McAndrews put forth a strong rookie campaign for the Owls, showing her versatility by leading the team in kills (230) and service aces (51) while ranking second on the team in digs (242). She reached double-digit kills in eleven games, including three straight to finish the season.
Westfield State finished the season 8-21 overall, however, the team finished second in the MASCAC with a 6-1 conference record. The Owls would fall to Framingham State in the MASCAC semi-final after a hard-fought five set match.