Westfield, Mass.— After COVID cancelled the 2020 season, MASCAC volleyball is back and Framingham State has been selected by the coaches from around the league to claim the 2021 MASCAC Volleyball title.

The Rams received five first place vote for 47 points. In 2019, they were 6-1 during MASCAC play.  2019 MASCAC Player of the Year and All-Conference honoree Brandee Thomas returns after leading the league in total kills (304), kills per set (3.42) and total attacks (904). She also collected a .210 hitting percentage, 127 digs, 14 service aces and 17 total blocks. 

Grabbing the other three first place votes in second is Westfield State with 44 points. The 2019  MASCAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions were 7-0 in league action. Tournament MVP Shawna Crowley is back on the court. She finished the 2019 season with 183 kills, (2.18 per set), 180 digs and 14 service aces.

Sitting in the third spot with 33 points is Bridgewater State. The Bears were 5-2 during conference action two seasons ago. In 2019, Sydney Rice finished with 173 kills, a .230 hitting percentage, 17 solo blocks and 37 total blocks on her way to All-Conference honors.

Worcester State comes in fourth with 31 points. The Lancers collected three wins during the conference slate in 2019. Returning for the team is Natalie Gillis who had 2.91 kills per set (274 total), 216 digs, 15 blocks and 10 aces to earn All-Conference accolades.  

Up next in fifth is MCLA with 29 points. The Trailblazers had a 4-3 mark in MASCAC action in 2019. 2019 MASCAC Rookie of the Year and All-Conference honoree Kelly Moczulski returns after she ended the regular season in the top two of several categories, including total kills (289), kills per set (3.04), service aces (61) and total attacks (877). She also finished with 286 digs and 15 total blocks. 

Salem State is in the sixth spot with 20 points. The Vikings earned two MASCAC wins in 2019. Genevieve Kempster returns after playing in 21 matches in 2019, compiling 61 kills, 176 digs and 10 service aces. 

Rounding out the 2021 poll is Fitchburg State in seventh and Massachusetts Maritime in eighth. The Falcons had 11 points in the poll. Lauren Riccardi had 109 kills, 111 digs, 18 service aces and 14 total blocks in 2019. The Buccaneers tallied nine points. Returning is Bianca Andronic who tallied 126 digs, 53 assists and 33 service aces during the 2019 season.     

 

The volleyball season gets underway this week with all eight MASCAC teams in non-conference action.

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

 

1. Framingham State (5) - 47 points

2. Westfield State (3) - 44 points

3. Bridgewater State - 33 points

4. Worcester State - 31 points

5. MCLA - 29 points

6. Salem State - 20 points

7. Fitchburg State - 11 points

8. Massachusetts Maritime - 9 points