Owls fall to Rams, 3-1

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Anna Szymanski (Harwinton, CT / Lewis S Mills) had 23 kills and 20 digs to lead Framingham State past Westfield State in four sets (25-22, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23) on Saturday, Sept. 24 in the Woodward Center.

The loss brings the Owls to 4-8 overall and 1-1 in the MASCAC, the Rams improve to 9-4 and 2-0 in conference.

Framingham took the first set 25-22 but the Owls rallied in a back and forth second set that saw 10 lead changes. Bridgette McAndrews (Longmeadow, Mass./ Longmeadow) connected for five kills in the second set win, she finished with a team leading, and season high, 16 kills on the day.

The Rams came out swinging in the third set, staking an 11-2 lead on an Isabel Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico / Academia Maria Reina) ace. Westfield trailed by 10 later in the set (21-11) before a furious comeback brought the set within two points late (23-21). Avery Predham (Sherman, CT / New Fairfield) and Kate Petrosso (Attleboro, Mass./ Attleboro) hammered the last two Ram kills for the win.

The final set was knotted at 23 before a pair of Stella Bailey (Wrentham, MA / King Philip) aces finished the match. Bailey finished the game with five aces.

Westfield State's Allie Hill (St. Clair Shores, Mich./ Lakeview) had a game-high 23 digs in the setback. Morgan Dority (Walpole, Mass/ Walpole) added 20 assists and 15 digs, both career highs for the first-year. The only other Owl with double-digit kills was Michaela O'Connor (Shrewsbury, Mass. / Shrewsbury) with 11.

Hailey Sanders (Franklin, MA / Franklin) posted a blistering .500 hitting percentage for the Rams, landing 18 kills on 32 attempts.

Both teams have conference matchups on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m., Westfield travels to Salem State and Framingham hosts Mass. Maritime.