Medford, MA- The Women's Volleyball team headed across the city on Thursday night to take on the Lesley University Lynx in a non-conference matchup. The Falcons were coming off their first win on Wednesday, taking down the Five Towns College Sound in straight sets and were looking to continue their winning streak over the Lynx. Last season the two teams faced off three times on the court with the Falcons coming away with straight set wins on all three occasions. On Thursday though, the Lynx ended that streak, defeating the Falcons 3-1 (19-25, 30-28, 23-25, 24-26), in what was a back and forth match all evening. The loss brings the Falcons record to 1-5, while the Lynx improve to 3-3.
The Lynx looked to pace the match from the gate as they took a 13-7 lead to start the first set. The Falcons answered with their own 7-2 run to close the gap to 15-13 after two straight Lynx errors forcing a Lesley timeout. Fisher was able to stay within three points and used two straight service aces from freshman Emma Soubosky (Leominster, MA) to get within two at 18-20, but the Lynx finished with a 5-1 run to earn the first set 25-19.
The next three sets were seesaw battles as Fisher came out strong in set number two building a 19-10 lead, forcing a Lynx timeout. Coming out of the break, the Lynx answered with their own big run, earning 13 out of the next 17 points to tie the game at 23-23. From there, there were five ties over the next ten points with the teams now tied at 28 a piece. After a Lynx error, Charisse Lazu (Trujillo Alto, PR) earned her third service ace of the night to clinch game two for the Falcons, 30-28.
The Falcons again took a quick lead in the third set, going up 4-1 on the strength of freshman Katherine Rodriguez's (Fajardo, PR) serving. Lesley's Cassidy Wygonik got her team back in it quickly as she led the Lynx on a key seven point run, which included four straight kills by Elise Morgan to give the Lynx back the lead forcing Fisher to take a timeout. The Lynx continued to put on the pressure extending their lead to 17-9, but the Falcons answered the bell again and outscored the Lynx 14-6 over the next 20 points to tie the game at 23. The Lynx were able to hold off the Falcons though, and took the third set 25-23.
The fourth set was no different as there were 10 ties and 11 lead changes throughout the 4th set as the Falcons desperately tried to force the fifth. Cynthia Huerta (Salinas, CA) Lia Aime (Las Piedras, PR), and Lazu all had three kills in the 4th set to pace the offense, tying the game at 24 a piece. A Wygonik service ace and a Morgan kill were the difference and the Lynx hung on for the 26-24 fourth set win, earning the 3-1 victory.
Fisher saw contributions from all six players on the court as the team combined for 43 kills and 89 digs. Huerta and Rodriguez both tallied season highs in the losing effort as Huerta had 30 digs while Rodriguez had an impressive eight service aces.
The Falcons are back at it this weekend as they head to Becker College for a tri-match with UMass-Dartmouth and the Becker Hawks. The action is set to start on Saturday at 1pm and live stats can be found here.