Fitchburg State Women’s Volleyball Celebrates Senior Night with Back-to-Back Wins
FITCHBURG, Mass. — The Fitchburg State University women’s volleyball team secured an impressive victory on their home court, defeating Albertus Magnus College in a sweeping 3-0 non-conference matchup on October 29. Riding high on their recent success, the Falcons then brought down Salem State in a thrilling five-set showdown on Senior Night, giving fans an unforgettable evening as the team honored its graduating players.
In their first match of the back-to-back wins, Fitchburg State dominated Albertus Magnus in three straight sets with scores of 25-19, 25-20, and 25-21. The Falcons were relentless on both offense and defense. Junior standout Stephanie Sardella led the charge, racking up a match-high ten kills and a team-leading 13 digs, while Sariah Dyer contributed an additional eight kills, two blocks, and six digs. Setting duties were split effectively by Madison Keohane and Mia Vestal, who posted 16 and 15 assists, respectively.
Albertus Magnus struggled to find their rhythm, managing only a .023 hitting percentage with 26 errors. Despite their efforts, the visiting Falcons couldn’t break Fitchburg’s steady performance, as Fitchburg outpaced them in kills (36-29), assists (34-27), and digs (71-65).
Senior Night on October 30 brought even more excitement as Fitchburg State faced off against Salem State in a nail-biting five-set match. With friends, family, and fans cheering them on, the Falcons rallied to overcome a challenging start, ultimately claiming victory with set scores of 21-25, 25-13, 23-25, 25-11, and 15-7.
Sardella continued to shine with a season-best 17 kills, complemented by five service aces, 18 digs, and a block assist. Her performance, along with Mia Vestal’s 23 assists and Jessica Greco’s defensive show of 24 digs, led the Falcons to victory in a closely contested match. Salem State’s Bella Coccia and Ariana Barrows put up a tough fight, but Fitchburg’s teamwork and resilience sealed the win.
The evening also celebrated the college careers of four Fitchburg State seniors: Samantha Mirra, Sariah Dyer, Shianne Harewood, and Ivyanie Alves, all of whom have left a lasting impact on the program. Reflecting on her time with the team, senior captain Samantha Mirra shared her pride in helping to grow the program since its revival in 2017, when she joined in 2021 as a freshman. “The program was still rebuilding, and it was incredible to be part of our team’s first playoff run in my sophomore year,” Mirra said, recounting the team’s first playoff appearance since the program’s restart. “To see all of our hard work paying off is something I’ll carry with me.”
Across both matches, the Falcons’ statistics tell the story of a team finding its stride. Against Albertus Magnus, Fitchburg outperformed in every key area, with higher kill counts, digs, and aces. The following night, their tenacity was on display against Salem State, with a season-high 53 kills, 51 assists, and 17 service aces.
As the season winds down, the team’s back-to-back victories mark a fitting celebration of their seniors’ contributions and a promising glimpse of the future of Fitchburg State volleyball. With strong leadership, tight team cohesion, and an enduring commitment to growth, the Falcons have every reason to look ahead with optimism. As Mirra reflects, “This program taught me resilience and trust in myself. Those are lessons I’ll take forward, whether it’s into the world of volleyball or life beyond it.”
Fitchburg State fans can stay tuned as the team looks to build on this momentum, honoring the commitment and drive that has defined this season and will continue shaping the team in the years to come.