North Andover Mass-- The Merrimack Men's Volleyball team was defeated by the Daemen University Wildcats Friday night by a score of 3-2 in their first ever NEC conference matchup.
 
In the first set, the Warriors fell behind early as the Wildcats went on a five-point run. Merrimack broke the run with a kill of their own and inched their way back in the first with a few more kills. Daemen University looked to jump ahead followed by another five-point run bringing the set 17-10. The Warriors looked to catch up but the Wildcats ended the first set 25-18 with the Warriors being down 0-1.
 
In the second set, the Warriors rode three multiple point scoring runs in a very tightly contested battle to a 14-11 lead. The Warriors surged with a four-point run that gave them an 18-11 lead followed by a four-point run from the Wildcats. Both teams traded a point with each other but the Warriors took over later in the set and won 25-21 tieing up the series 1-1.
 
The third set, much like the second set, was very closely contested to start but the Warriors refused to give in as they scored eight points to tie up the game against the Wildcats. The Warriors continued to chip away and keep it close but were unable to complete the comeback and lost the third set 25-21 and down 2-1.
 
Heading into the fourth set, the Wildcats looked to end the set early with a five-point lead and send the Warriors home but Merrimack refused to give up and tied the game up 8-8. The Warriors looked to get back into this matchup scoring six points that would give them a three point lead. The Warriors would make the comeback and win the fourth set to tie the series up 2-2 with an intense fourth set win.
 
In the fifth and final set, the Warriors went on a three-point run to take the lead 4-3. Both teams would trade a 2-point lead with each other up until the Wildcats would go on two multiple point runs which were broken up by kills from Merrimack. With the score 14-10, the Warriors got a kill until the Wildcats scored their final point and took the series 3-2.
 
Notes and Numbers:
•            Xander Thesz  had 13 kills, Zyshonne Lang had 11, Matthew Motes had 8
•            Carson Bashford had 38 assists.
•            Kyle Standage led the team in digs with eleven.
 
Up Next:
The Warriors are back in action on Saturday night at 7:30 PM as they're set to face D'Youville University at Hammel Court.
 
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For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
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