Story written and posted by Anthony Perry '08, Fisher College Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information

DUDLEY, MASS. – After a successful first game out, the Fisher College Women's Volleyball team were prepared for challenge this evening and they got one, as the Falcons earned a hard-fought five set victory at Nichols College. The win improves Fisher's record to 2-0 while the Bison even out at 1-1.

The Bison came out strong as they rode the wave of the home crowd and took the first set 25-15. However, the Falcons were able to weather the storm and bounce back by taking the next two sets by scores of 25-23 and 25-9. In the fourth set, Nichols climbed back from a 17-11 deficit to force extra points and an eventual fifth set with a dramatic 26-24 score. A back-and-forth opening of the fifth set saw the two teams tied at 9-9 before the Falcons created some momentum and took six of the next seven points to win the fifth set 15-10 and the match, 3-2.

Junior Macy Barnes (Duart, Calif.), the recently named Continental Athletic Conference Volleyball Attacker of the Week, once again powered the team to victory as she finished the contest with 18 kills and a game-high 26 digs. Senior Lia Aime (Las Piedras, Puerto Rico) picked up 23 digs and three service aces as the primary libero while freshman Paola Velazquez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) dished out 31 assists. Classmate Edsyl Irrizary (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) scooped up 16 digs on the night and was outstanding along the service line as she matched junior Natalia Ortiz (Humacao, Puerto Rico) with six service aces, each. Ortiz and junior Nathalie Rodriguez Cruz (Guarbo, Puerto Rico) also chipped in with five kills in the five set win. Freshman Lilliana Figueroa (Fajardo, Puerto Rico) reached double-figures with her 10 kill performance and junior Aya Al-Juraishi (Walnut, Calif.) contributed on both ends with two kills, four service aces and a block assist.

Nichols saw Haylee Granato record the game-high of 23 kills and a .339 hitting percentage over her five sets played with 19 digs and two block assists. Rachael Veilleux directed the Bison offensive attack with 29 assists and Liz Diorio collected 21 digs in the loss. Also shining bright along the backline was Regan Richard, who registered 11 digs on the night.

The win by the Falcons evens up the overall series with Nichols at 2-2. Fisher defeated the Bison in the first meeting, 3-0, on October 19, 2018 before Nichols bested the Falcons in the 2019 ENC opening weekend classic in a pair of 3-0 scores.

Both programs will be back in action on Saturday afternoon. Fisher will travel to Milton, Mass. for a tri-match at Curry College (11am) with Massachusetts Maritime Academy (1pm). Nichols is also on the road as they head to Castleton, Vermont for an afternoon date with Castleton University.