Golden Eagles Bounce Rams From NCAA Tournament

By Kathleen Lynch/Framingham State athletics

The Framingham State University volleyball team was defeated 3-0 by the College of Brockport Golden Eagles Friday afternoon in an opening round match of the 2015 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship in Alumni Gymnasium on the campus of Clarkson University. The Rams were defeated by scores of 25-19, 25-21, and 25-22.

The Golden Eagles (34-1) advance to face Springfield College on Saturday as the Pride defeated the College of Mount Saint Vincent 3-0 in the first match of the day at the Potsdam Regional, while the Rams see their season come to a close at 25-9.

The Rams were led by 17 kills from junior Alycia Rackliffe.

Rackliffe recorded her team-best 17 kills on 42 attempts with just one error for a .372 hitting percentage.

Senior Danielle Girard added eight kills with no errors on 21 attempts to go along with 16 defensive digs, while junior Julia Wan also chipped in with eight kills. Sophomore Sarah Leonard added 32 set assist.

The Rams tailed 13-7 in the first before pulling within two at 14-12 on a kill from Rackliffe.

The Rams pulled within one (15-14) on a kill from senior Annie DeLoid but back-to-back points by the Golden Eagles pushed the lead back to three. The Rams would get no closer as the Golden Eagles eventually took the set, 25-19, on a Framingham error.

The Golden Eagles opened up an 11-6 lead to start the second frame, but the Rams came back with a 4-1 spurt to pull within two (12-10) on a service ace from Girard. Brockport countered with a 6-2 run to take an 18-12 advantage. The Rams made things interesting down the stretch with three straight points to pull within four (24-21), but an Ashley Capone kill closed the set for Brockport.

The Rams opened the third set taking a 9-5 lead. Brockport pulled within one on several occasions including 14-13 but the Ramswere able to remain on top.

Coming out of a timeout with the Rams leading 20-17, Brockport rattled off three straight points to tie the set. A block from Rackliffe and freshman Mackenzie Webster put the Rams back on top, but two straight points gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the frame, 22-21.

After a Ram timeout, the two teams traded points before the match ended on a Capone kill.