Clark University Rolls to 3-0 Win over Volleyball

Framingham, Mass. – In a matchup that featured a pair of emerging teams in the region, Clark University took control of the match in the opening set and secured a 3-0 win over host Framingham State University in non-league volleyball action on Thursday evening at the Athletic Center.

The Cougars improve to 16-4 with their third consecutive victory, while the Rams slip to 17-6 and have now dropped back-to-back matches for the second time this season.

In the first set, the Scarlet and White jumped out to an 11-6 advantage but Framingham State stormed back and actually took a 14-12 lead -  a scoring run that was aided by a trio of kills by Julia Wan (South Deerfield, Mass.), Annie DeLoid (Plymouth, Mass.) and Danielle Girard (Tivoli, N.Y.). Clark settled down and went ahead 20-17 before collecting the 25-19 win capped by consecutive kills by Courtney Pharr (Seattle, Wash.).

With the score knotted at 9-9 in the second set, the Cougars ran off nine of the next 11 points to surge ahead 18-11 following a Marina Ramos (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) kill and a Mia Cattaneo (Santa Barbara, Calif.) service ace. The Rams didn't go away, however, and closed the gap to 23-17 but another kill from Ramos was followed up by one from Ana Mercado (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) to seal the set, 25-18.

The hosts came out energized in the third and the score was close at 9-8 after a Girard kill. Clark went on another one of their patented scoring bursts and were in front 15-9.

Framingham State made one final push, getting as close as 17-16 as Alycia Rackliffe (Feeding Hills, Mass.) and Wan hammered down kills. The Cougars put the match away, however, as Pharr tallied a service ace around a pair of Ramos kills, giving the Scarlet and White the 25-18 triumph.
The Rams were led by Rackliffe, who finished with nine kills, while both Girard (seven kills, 15 digs) and Wan (seven kills, ten digs) just missed out on double-doubles.  Sophomore Sarah Leonard (Southborough, Mass.) recorded a team best 22 set assists.

Clark's offense was paced by Ramos, who totaled a match-high 17 kills to go along with nine digs, while Pharr had a strong evening as well, recording eight kills and a pair of service aces.
Rachel Webb (Celina, Texas) dished out a match-high 31 assists, Shannon Glass-Smythe (Albuquerque, N.M.) added nine kills, while Cattaneo led a strong back row for the Cougars, collecting 15 digs.

The Rams are back in action on Saturday with a non-conference tri-match at Smith with Mount Holyoke beginning at 11 a.m., while the Cougars host Wheaton in conference action on October 20^th at 7 p.m.