BUZZARDS BAY, Mass -- Wednesday evening, the Buccaneers hosted their annual Dig Pink game to raise money for the Sideout Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds for metastatic breat cancer research. The team raised nearly $400 for Sidout through their efforts. On the court, the Bucs were unable to hold off Fitchburg State in conference play as the Falcons won the match 3-0.

The Basics

Final: Fitchburg 3, Maritime 0 (25-21, 25-9, 25-23)

Records: Fitchburg 2-17 (1-5 MASCAC)

           Maritime 1-18 (0-6 MASCAC)

For The Bucs

• Ameena Freeman (Columbus, OH) and Izabella Mackintosh (Plymouth, MA) each posted a team-high five kills in the match. Marlo Sim (Groton, CT) and Alexa Smith (Shippensburg, PA) each had three.
• Audrey Manning recorded a team-high eight assists. Freeman added three. 
• Manning led the match in service aces with three. Sim had two for the Bucs as well.
• Freeman led the Bucs defensively with 12 digs. Isabelle Miazga (Rocky Hill, CT) and Manning each had nine with Sim recording eight. 
• The Bucs totaled two blocks with block assists from Tegan Murray (Newbury, MA), who had two, and one each from Freeman and Katerina Galvan (Cornwall, N.Y.)

For The Falcons

• Leah Sheehan led all players with nine kills. Four other Falcons had five kills apiece.
• Merideth Taylor rackd up a match-high 18 assists.
• Samantha Mirra and Sheehan both had two service aces.
• Mirra led all players defensively with 21 digs. Catherine Goodearl picked up 14 and Perry Joubert had 10.

How It Happened

Set one started with Maritime scoring first followed by an 11-2 run by the Falcons. Having to play catch up, the Bucs pulled back within three midway through the game, 16-13. Maritime continued to claw back trailing by two late, 23-21. Fitchburg went on to capitalize on a Bucs error and a Lauren Riccardi kill to take the game, 25-21.

The second set did not go as well for the Bucs. It starts the same as they took a 1-0 lead, followed by a 14-0 run with Mirra serving for the guests. Gaining their composure, the Buccaneers put together a couple of small runs but could not erase the large early lead ultimately falling in set two 25-9.

Set three was arguably the best for the Buccaneers as they posted a .189 hitting percentage, their highest of the match, 11 kills and just four errors. Though they didn't score first, they did jump out to a five points lead midway through the set leading 13-7. From there, Fitchburg put together a 7-0 run to take a 14-13 advantage. The teams traded points from there with the Bucs getting two points to the Falcons one on a couple of occasions and eventually taking another lead, 20-17. Fitchburg went on to score six of the next nine points tying the game at 23-23. The Falcons finished the match, scoring the final two points, taking set three, 25-23, and the match, 3-0.

What's Next

The Buccaneers will host Rhode Island College on Saturday at 12pm. All vaccinated spectators are welcome inside the Clean Harbors Athletic Center and must wear a mask at all times. If you can't make it to the match watch live and follow along at mmabucs.com.