NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – The Merrimack Men's Volleyball team was defeated by the Sacred Heart University Pioneers Friday night by a score of 3-2 in their fourth NEC matchup.

The Essentials
Score: Merrimack 2, Sacred Heart 3
Records:Merrimack (6-9, 0-4 NEC) | Sacred Heart (5-7, 3-2 NEC)
Location: William H. Pitt Center, Fairfield, CT

Rapid Recap

● In the first set, Sacred struck first with the first two points. The Warriors would respond with a point of their own until the Pioneers went on a three-point run which was broken up with a two point run by Merrimack. Sacred would strike again with two points of their own to keep their lead (7-3). The Warriors would earn a point due to a service error but the Pioneers would get one of their own. Merrimack would show some life as they would get two points to keep the game close. The two teams would then trade points until Sacred would go on a five-point run to make the score 16-9. This would be broken up with a block to earn the Warriors a point, but the Pioneers would get another two points on the next two series. The Warriors would stop it again but Sacred would score another two points. Merrimack would fight back with a 4-2 run of their own to make the score 22-15. As the two teams traded points, the Pioneers would take the first set 25-18.
● In the second set, the Warriors would take an early 5-2 lead as they came out the gate swinging. The teams would trade points for a while until Merrimack would go on a two point run to make the score 16-12. The teams would trade points again until the Warriors would get another two-run advantage to push their lead. After some more back and forth scoring the Pioneers would get their own 2-0 run to try and comeback. Not to be outdone, the Warriors would go on a two-point run to make the score 23-18. The Warriors would try to close the game out but the Pioneers would try to pull off a late game surge, going on a four-point run until Merrimack would seal the deal to take the second set 25-22 and tie the match at 1-1.
● The third set would start off very competitive as the two teams traded points to make the set 3-3 to start. That was until the Pioneers went on a three-point run to take the lead. After a back and forth exchange, the Warriors would go on a 2-0 run. Not to be outdone, the Pioneers would go on a two-point run of their own to push their lead. After the two teams traded points again, Merrimack would get a two-point run that would make the score 13-12. After another trade-off, the Warriors would tie the match at 15-15. The teams would trade leads until Sacred would go on a three-point run to make the score 21-19. However, the Warriors did not quit as they would go on their own three-point run to take the lead 22-21. After the game was tied at 23-23, it was the Warriors who would have the last laugh, as they would get the two-point advantage and win the set 25-23 and take the series lead, 2-1.
● The fourth set started with the Pioneers taking a large lead, as they went up 8-1. The two teams would trade points until the Warriors would go on a two-point run to close Sacred's lead. The Pioneers would go on a 8-4 run to push their lead up to 22-9. The Warriors would go on a two-point run of their own to try and comeback. After another trade-off in points, Sacred Heart would take the set 25-13 and tie the match up at 2-2.
● In the fifth set, the Warriors would start off good to go up 2-0 early. However, the Pioneers fought back, as they went on a four-point run to take the lead. Merrimack would score again to make it a one point game, but Sacred would get another two-point advantage to push their lead to 6-3. As the two teams traded points, the Pioneers would go on a three-point run to go up 11-6. After another trade off of points, Sacred Heart would go on a two-point run to push their lead. The Warriors would try to come back but would end up being defeated at the end by a score of 15-10, and dropping the match 3-2.

Notes and Numbers
● Xander Thesz had 15 kills, Matthew Motes had 12, and Miles Dewhirst had 10
● Carson Bashford had 43 assists during the match .
● Dewhirst, Bashford and Kyle Standage all had five digs.

Up Next: 

The Warriors will face American International College on Friday night at 7 p.m.