WESTFIELD – The Westfield State University women’s cross country team has been picked to win its 14th consecutive Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) cross country championship, based on a vote of the seven coaches around the league in the annual preseason poll.
2016 MASCAC Women’s Cross Country Champions
The 2016 MASCAC Champion Owls claimed six of the seven first place votes for 36 points. Westfield State senior Jessie Cardin (Sutton, Mass. / Sutton Memorial) won her third consecutive conference championship in the 2016, earning MASCAC Runner of the Year honors for the third straight year. Joining Cardin on the All-Conference team a year ago are returning teammates Lindsay Wassung (Feeding Hills, Mass. / Agawam) in fifth, Andrea Noland (Kingston, Mass. / Silver Lake) in sixth and Julie Carroll (Southwick, Mass. / Holyoke Catholic) in ninth.
The Owls will travel to Jacksonville, FL on September ninth to kick-start their season at the North Florida Invitational September 9.
SILVER LINING: The Westfield State University’s men’s cross country team is projected to finish second in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC), based on the preseason coaches’ poll released Friday.
The Owls claimed the 2016 MASCAC Team Championship with 34 total points. The Owls return Tim Forrest (Grafton / Westborough) who placed third individually at the MASCAC Championship meet, and Patrick Brett (Hanson, Mass. / Whitman-Hanson) finished sixth. Both received All-Conference honors as top 10 finishers.
Westfield State will need to replace top finisher Derik Noland (Kingston, Mass. / Silver Lake Regional), lost to graduation, who was consistently the Owls top finisher last season and placed second individually at the MASCAC meet.
SERVING UP ANOTHER PREDICTION: Westfield State University’s women’s volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll.
The Owls received 43 points (out of a possible 49) and one first-place vote. Framingham State, the defending league champions led the poll with 49 points and seven first-place votes. Coaches may not vote for their own team in the poll.
Westfield finished the 2016 campaign with a 5-1 mark in the league and placed second in the regular season, advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament. The Owls posted an overall 13-19 record while playing a string non-conference schedule.
The Owls return a strong nucleus, led by all-conference defensive specialist Lizzie Taylor, and two of their top three hitters in Brianna Starkey and Natasha Belardo.
The Owls will begin their pursuit of a MASCAC title on September 1, playing at the Springfield College tournament on Friday and Saturday. – Courtesy of Westfield State University sports
