NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's volleyball team plays a near perfect match in a win against NEC foe D'Youville University.
 
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 3, D'Youville 0
Records: Merrimack (3-6, 1-0), D'Youville (5-2, 0-2)
 
How It Happened
In Merrimack's NEC season opener, both teams came out the gate throwing haymakers. It was a back-and-forth affair, with each team trading their share of the lead. The impact of freshman Yulius Melvin Brown Rudolf was immediately felt, as he would provide 4 kills and then an ace to help give the Warriors a 17-15 lead in the first set. Sophomore Kyle Wagner would check into the game completely shifting the momentum in Merrimack's favor as D'Youville could not set up an attack and the Warriors would take their largest lead 20-16. There was no turning back from there as Merrimack would win the set 25-20.
 
Set number two was just as much of a dogfight. A 17-12 Merrimack lead was short-lived as the Saints would claw their way back by winning 7 of the next 9 points. Everyone in Hammel Court was on the edge of their seat for the remainder of the set. It would be sophomore Logan Whitaker who would assert his dominance this set with 5 kills, including 3 crucial ones and an ace down the stretch. The Warriors would dig deep in the "win by 2" format to secure the set by a score of 29-27.   
 
Merrimack would look to bring the brooms out in set three and boy did they not disappoint. Things would be tight at the beginning of the set, but the Warriors would put their foot on the gas and never look back. Down 8-7, Merrimack would go on a 6-1 run, taking the lead 13-9. D'Youville would attempt to switch the game in their favor, however the Warriors would shut that down quickly going an 11-1 run that included 7 unanswered. Senior Matthew Motes would finish the game off with one of his 10 kills, a season-high, as Merrimack won the third and final set 25-13.

Notes and Numbers

• Logan Whitaker led the Warriors with 14 kills.
• Reece Lindstrom tied his career-high with 31 assists.
• Kyle Standage had another outstanding defensive performance with 13 digs.
• Yulius Melvin Brown Rudolf had a team-high 3 aces in his first collegiate game.

 
Up Next
The Warriors play at home again tomorrow Saturday, February 17^th against Daemen University at 7:30 PM.