Volleyball Clinches Dramatic 3-2 Win Over Gordon to Earn Playoff Berth, Blanked by Framingham State 3-0 on Senior Day

Senior Day Photo Gallery

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene volleyball team punched its ticket to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament for the first time since 2007, defeating Gordon 3-2 in the final conference match of the season Saturday afternoon on Senior Day. The Lions also suffered a 3-0 loss to Framingham State Saturday.

The Lions grabbed the No. 6 seed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament with a 3-5 league record. Eastern Nazarene will visit third-seeded Endicott in the opening round November 5.

The Lions improve to 15-16 overall with the victory and loss.

The Fighting Scots dip to 12-17 on the season and 1-7 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Rams progress to 25-6 on the year with the two wins.

Senior Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.) knocked down 42 kills and added 26 digs to lead Eastern Nazarene on the afternoon. Kortney Jenkins (Bunker Hill, W.V.) notched 28 kills and 22 digs in the two matches. Hannah Welsh (Derry, N.H.) finished the day with 12 kills, 36 digs and a team high four aces.

Rookie setter Lauryl Berger (Laurel, Del.) doled out 84 assists in the two contests while also chipping in with 11 digs and two aces.

Senior Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) paced the Lions defensively with 30 digs while Vanessa Pascal (Marlborough, Mass.) recorded 14 digs in the tri-match. Senior Leann Williams (Oxford, Pa.) posted a team-best five blocks on the day.

In the opening match, Eastern Nazarene claimed the first set 25-19 before Gordon knotted the match at 1-1 with a 25-21 decision in the second. The visitors captured a one-set advantage after edging the hosts 25-23 in the third game.

The Lions rallied to level the contest at 2-2 with a 25-20 victory in the fourth set.

In the deciding fifth frame, Eastern Nazarene prevailed 15-12 over Gordon to secure a spot in the Commonwealth Coast Conference playoffs.

The first match on the afternoon featured 29 tie scores and eight lead changes, resulting in a five-set nail-biter.

In the final contest of the day, Framingham State claimed the first game 25-17 to earn a 1-0 edge. The visitors doubled their advantage to two sets with a 25-18 win in the second frame. The Rams closed out the match with a 25-19 victory in the third set.

Framingham State downed Gordon 3-0 in the second match of the weekend tri-match. The Rams claimed the opening set 25-19 to gain a 1-0 lead. Framingham State collected a 25-14 victory in each of the final two games to notch the non-conference sweep over Gordon.

Jessica Burdick led Gordon with 15 kills while Chelsie Clemens added 12 and Laura Schmidt tallied 11. Maggie Risma registered 45 digs on the day and Krystal Vander Ark racked up 24 digs for the Fighting Scots.

Alycia Rackliffe finished with 17 kills on the afternoon to pace Framingham State. Andressa Fernandes added 15 kills while Maribeth Martin provided 41 assists. Julia Wan picked up a team-high 26 digs in the tri-match for the Rams.

Prior to the start of the Lions' non-conference tilt against Framingham State, the Eastern Nazarene volleyball program honored its senior class. The Lions recognized Cayla Clinkscale (Winchendon, Mass.), Sam Losano (Elverta, Calif.) and Leann Williams (Oxford, Pa.) for their hard work, dedication and leadership to the program over the past four years.