Links: Box Score (SCI) |
Box Score (ESU)
EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – Behind a team hitting percentage of .187 and four student-athletes who totaled at least seven kills apiece, the Merrimack College women's volleyball program won its first match of 2018 in shutout fashion via a 3-0 victory over the University of the Sciences on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors went on to fall to East Stroudsburg University, 3-0, in their final contest of the season-opening tri-match at Koehler Fieldhouse.
The Basics
Score (Sciences): Merrimack 3, Sciences 0
Score (ESU): ESU 3,
Merrimack 0
Records: Merrimack (1-1) | Sciences (0-2) | ESU (4-0)
Location: Koehler Fieldhouse | East Stroudsburg, Pa.
Set Breakdown (SCI)
- Facing a 14-10 deficit in the first set, the Warriors ripped off a 7-0 run that featured a pair of kills for freshman Sophie Meyers. Sciences did not lead over the remainder of the set as Merrimack won the final three points to claim the game, 25-18, via two points for freshman Brooke Leestma and a service ace for Rosie Sperduto
- A back-and-forth second frame swung in Merrimack's favor when the Warriors broke a 14-14 deadlock with a 5-0 run capped off by a block from Meyers and sophomore Catherine Flaherty. Merrimack won the middle set comfortably, 25-19
- Another mid-set run gave Merrimack the victory in the third. Trailing by three, the Warriors won seven consecutive points and nine of the following 10 to claim a 19-14 advantage. After failing to convert on the first match point, senior captain Sofia Basauri recorded the match-clinching kill to complete the sweep of the Devils
Set Breakdown (ESU)
- East Stroudsburg entered the final match of the tri-match with a nine-set winning streak to start the year. Merrimack started off hot, forcing the host Warriors into a timeout after a 6-0 run gave the visitors a 14-8 lead. Out of the stoppage, however, ESU used a 9-1 spurt to pull away, eventually leading to a 25-19 victory
- The middle frame went ESU's way, 25-12, but the Warriors started the third set strongly by winning five of the first seven points. Later in the frame and losing by five, three errors by the hosts allowed Merrimack to cut its deficit to two, 16-14, but that was as close as Merrimack would get to reclaiming the lead.
Top Performers (MC // SCI)
Top Performers (MC // ESU)
- Kills: Flaherty (5) // Sarah Smith (12)
- Aces: Sperduto (2) // Smith (9)
- Blocks: Marr/Meyers (1) // Sam Dunphy (4)
- Assists: Sperduto (16) // Tina Predojevic (29)
- Digs: Amanda Cain (10) // Predojevic (10)
Notes and Notables
- In the program's first-ever match against the University of the Sciences, the Warriors recorded their first sweep of 2018
- Meyers' four block assists against the Devils marked the most for a Warriors rookie since sophomore Karina Anderson recorded five against Bentley last September
- The Warriors' .187 team hitting percentage to open the day bested all but three single-match totals from 2017
- Basauri, Flaherty, Leestma and Meyers all finished with attack rates of at least .200 against Sciences
- Freshmen Kara Haase, Natasha Vallis and Kayla Zinser all made their Merrimack debuts during Saturday's finale
Up Next
The Warriors partake in the Skyhawk Invitational next weekend, playing in three matches beginning on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against Georgian Court. Merrimack will then play twice on Sunday, Sept. 2, against Felician and the host Skyhawks.
