Volleyball Wins on Senior Night, Secure Home Playoff Game

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— The MCLA Volleyball Team wrapped up their 2024-25 regular season this afternoon when they welcomed the Worcester State to the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium for a MASCAC matchup with the Lancers while also celebrating their graduating class. Both teams entered the game having secured an entry to the post-season but waiting to find their seed in the MASCAC tournament. The Trailblazers scored a season-high 18 service aces, led by seven from Elizabeth Brown, to go with 19 kills from Chloie Garber and 14 digs from Ezmeralda Albright to secure the fourth seed and the home game that goes with it.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024

• Score: Worcester State 2, MCLA 3
• Records: Worcester State University Lancers 8-18 (MASCAC 4-3) | MCLA Trailblazers 11-16 (MASCAC 4-3)
• Series History: Worcester State leads the all-time series 30-11, including a 3-1 win by MCLA in the semi-final of the MASCAC playoffs one year ago to the day. The teams first met on November 20, 1975.

SENIOR DAY

Before the first game, the Trailblazers recognized their graduating class as part of senior night celebrations. The coaches, teammates, family members, and fans honored Chloie Garber (Eagle River, AK), Julia Graham (Chittenango, NY), and Ezmeralda Albright (Loves Park, IL) for their time with the volleyball program. Although their time with the program may end, they will forever be a part of the MCLA family.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The day started with three very competitive sets. MCLA took the first 25-22 before Worcester took the second and third by scores of 25-21 and 26-24. The Trailblazers stormed back in the fourth, finishing off the Lancers 25-13 to set up a fifth and deciding set that MCLA took 15-10.
• Garber finished the game with a game-high 19 kills, while junior outside hitter Elizabeth Brown (Lee, MA) finished with 15. Cassidy D'Esposito was the only player to reach double-digit kills for Worcester.
• The Lancers Megan Bardis had a game-high 20 assists, four ahead of teammate Angela Colonis' 16. The duo of junior setter Shannon O'Brien (Unionville, CT) and first-year setter Addison Decaro (Eagle River, AK) combined for 33 of the Trailblazers' 44 assists, recording 17 and 16, respectively.
• Senior Libero Ezmeralda Albright (Loves Park, IL) paced MCLA with 14 digs, followed by 11 from Brown. Colonis had a game-high 24 for Worcester.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Brown's seven service aces were the most since she opened the 2023 season with ten against SUNY Cobleskill.
• The Trailblazers' 18 service aces were a season-high and their highest single-game total since their MASCAC playoff opener against Fitchburg State last season when they had 25 aces.

UP NEXT:

On Tuesday, MCLA will be back in action when it opens the MASCAC playoffs with a rematch against the same Worcester State Lancer team in the Amsler Campus Center Gym. The match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.

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