NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's volleyball team came out victorious in a thrilling five set match against St. Thomas Aquinas College.
 
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 3, St. Thomas Aquinas 2
Records: Merrimack (6-7, 1-1), St. Thomas Aquinas (4-11, 1-1)
 
How It Happened
Merrimack played back-to-back nights after a tussle with Dominican University the day prior. The Warriors came out the gate with an early lead, but the Spartans weren't going to just hand Merrimack an easy win. Finding themselves down 10-8, the Warriors would go on a 6-0 run giving them some breathing room. St. Thomas clawed their way back into the fight to get within two points, making the set 22-20. A Nick Tidik kill closed the door for the Spartans as Merrimack won the first set 25-22.
 
Set two was just as intense as the first, with the Warriors eyeing a two-set lead. Merrimack found themselves up early again, 9-6, but St. Thomas did not go away. Things would stay tight, as the teams swapped points until the Warriors were up 21-20 towards the end of the set. The Spartans saw Merrimack on their heels and finished out the set on a 5-1 run to secure themselves set two 25-22.
 
Each team looked to eclipse the other in set number three. This time it would be St. Thomas that would hold the lead for about half the set. Neither team was willing to give as the Warriors were teetering on the ropes down 24-23 in a must score situation. This set was as tense as ever, with Logan Whitaker showing up when it mattered most. Three kills for Whitaker kept Merrimack in it, but the Spartans would prevail in a crazy 32-30 third set win.

Coach Ray Lewis tried to fire his team up after poor team performances in two straight sets. The Warriors would find themselves in a hole down 9-6, but the pressure of going home with a loss this set did not get to them. Freshman Setter Blake Taschner would come in cold off the bench and heat things up for Merrimack. His presence helped shift the momentum in the Warriors favor, with the team going on an 8-1 run going up 18-12. The set was pretty much out of reach for the Spartans and Merrimack would go on to force a fifth set by a score of 25-15.
 
The Warriors fourth set dominance would carry over into the fifth set "win or go home" scenario. Down 5-3 to start, Merrimack rallied, going on a 6-0 run thanks to a kill and three straight aces from Logan Whitaker. St. Thomas hung around, but the firepower of the Warriors was too much as they would win the fifth set 15-11, and the match 3-2.
 
Notes and Numbers

• Logan Whitaker had a season-high 6 aces along with 23 kills
• Nick Tidik led the way with 3 blocks
• Reece Lindstrom laid out 38 assists

 
Up Next
The Warriors will be back on Friday, March 8^th to host Harvard University.