Wildcats Fall to Lancers in Tough Match
WORCESTER, Mass. --- Despite three Wildcats hitting over .300 for the match the Lancers held strong defeating Bay Path 3-0 in regional women's volleyball action. Worcester State won in three tight games 25-21, 25-21 and 25-17. Freshman outside hitter Arriadne Sykes (Hartford, Conn.) led the way with a .357 attack percentage with eight kills.
The Blue and Gold were also paced by second-year Amanda Lewis (Poughkeepsie, NY) who doled out 25 assists as senior Becky Lebel (Millbury, Mass.) and junior classmates Emily Cox (N. Andover, Mass.) and Megan Brown (Dartmouth, Mass.) all chipped in with five kills each. The triumvirate combined for 14 digs as junior Vicki O'Brien added a team-high nine.
Lebel finished with two solo blocks and freshman Jennifer Cabral (Swansea, Mass.) had eight digs.
The Wildcats were paced by freshman Sykes with team high 10.0 points also chipped in three digs and two block solos. Senior Ashley Provost (Ludlow, Mass.) and first-year Amber Cohens (Hampden, Conn.) both amassed seven kills apiece with a sizzling .375 attack percentage.
As the Lancers clung to the 1-0 series advantage, Bay Path led by as many as 10-4 and 17-14 by the second rotation in the second set.
With the score 19-18 in favor of the Wildcats, the Lancers rallied for three quick points on a block by sophomore Ali Remigio (Tewksbury, Mass.), an attacking error and a kill by Brown for the 20-19 edge.
In the third, Worcester State raced out to a 10-3 lead, but the Wildcats used some strong serving by freshman Amanda McEntee (Walton, N.Y.) and freshman Katelynn Haylette (Teryville, Conn.) to get within striking distance to trail 13-11.
The Lancers improve their season mark to 6-5 while the Wildcats slip to 5-3 with the setback. The victory marked the 100th career win for 8th year head coach Bernie Chase who is 100-129 overall (.418).
The Lancers will play Newbury in non-league action on Thursday at 7 PM. Bay Path will play again in a quad match hosted by Green Mountain. They will play Gordon at 11 AM, Brooklyn (NY) at 3 and the hosting Eagles at 5 PM