Volleyball Outlasts Salem on Senior Day

MCLA celebrated Senior Day and took down Salem State in MASCAC play this afternoon.

MCLA honored seniors Shannon O'Brien (left), Elizabeth Brown (center), and Audrey Melson (right) before their 3-1 win over Salem State. Photo credit: Dylan Schenck
MCLA honored seniors Shannon O'Brien (left), Elizabeth Brown (center), and Audrey Melson (right) before their 3-1 win over Salem State. Photo credit: Dylan Schenck
October 25, 2025
Photos Video (Coach's Film) Box Score

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The MCLA Volleyball team welcomed the Salem State Vikings to the Amsler Campus Center Gymnasium for clash of teams with different MASCAC playoff hopes on the line. The Trailblazers entered looking for a chance to secure a first round bye while the Vikings were looking to secure a ticket to the dance.

THE BASICS:

  • Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
  • Score: Salem 1, MCLA 3
  • Records: Salem State University Vikings 9-12 (MASCAC 2-4) | MCLA Trailblazers 15-6 (MASCAC 5-1)
  • Series History: Salem State leads the all-time series 20-18. MCLA took the last meeting of the teams 3-2 last season on October 26, 2024, in Salem. The teams met for the first time on December 6, 1975, in North Adams.

SENIOR NIGHT

  • Before the first game, the Trailblazers recognized the Volleyball program's graduating class as part of senior night celebration. Elizabeth Brown (Lee, MA), Shannon O'Brien (Unionville, CT), and Audrey Melson (Champlin Park, MN) were honored by coaches, teammates, family members, and fans for their time with the volleyball program. 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • MCLA rolled through the first set 25-17, going wire-to-wire without relinquishing the lead. Senior setter Shannon O'Brien (Unionville, CT) opened the match with a 5-0 serving run that included a pair of service aces.
  • The Vikings bounced back in the second set, pushing the hosts around for a 25-16 frame to tie the afternoon at 1-1. Salem's Ariana Barrows' six kills in the second set were the highest individual total in any set all afternoon.
  • The third set was the most competitive of the match, seeing 12 tie scores and seven outright lead changes before the Trailblazers locked down a 27-25 win. The largest lead at any point in the set was three points, which happened three times. Senior outside hitter Elizabeth Brown (Lee, MA) led all scorers in the frame with four kills, followed closely by first-year outside hitter Kaelynn Greeley (Corona, CA) with three.
  • While the fourth set didn't have the eye-popping back-and-forth scoring with only five ties and two lead changes, it still provided an exciting end to the afternoon with the teams needing 54 points to finish the tilt 28-26.

STATISTICAL ROUND UP

  • Kills: Salem 50, MCLA 39
  • Assists: Salem 49, MCLA 35
  • Service Aces: Salem 10, MCLA 14
  • Digs: Salem 74, MCLA 77

UP NEXT:

On Wednesday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to Westfield State for a MASCAC matchup with the Owls at the Woodward Center. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.

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