Shorthanded Volleyball Falls at Adelphi
North Andover, Mass. – The shorthanded Merrimack volleyball team hung tough on Saturday afternoon but they were unable to come up with a victory as they lost to Adelphi 3-0. The loss drops Merrimack to 3-17 (0-8 NE-10).
Game scores against Adelphi: 25-15, 26-24, 25-18.
"We played very well today and it was very promising as our team was not at full strength," said head coach TJ Hajjar. "Shaunda Forcier really stepped up and played a good match for us today in the loss."
Merrimack got off to a slow start in the first set and they were unable to overcome the deficit as they were downed 25-15 by the home team. Junior Shaunda Forcier (Gonic, NH) played well throughout the first set as she ended with four kills. Freshman Allison Cote (Chelmsford, Mass.) started her second consecutive game and came up big in the first set with eight assists.
Set two was very tightly contested as there were 11 ties between the two teams, including a tie at 24 late in the set. The Panthers however collected the final two points of the set to beat the Warriors. Cote played well once again at the setter position with 10 assists and Stephanie Sheehan (Smithtown, N.Y.) racked up four kills for the fighting Warriors.
The third set started off promising for the Warriors but they were unable to keep up their intensity as they sputtered late in the set and fell 25-18. The Warriors were off the mark offensively as they recorded an attack percentage of .100 compared to Adelphi's .167.
The Warriors were given solid offensive performances by Forcier and Sheehan who both finished with a team-high nine kills on the afternoon. Defensively freshman Taciane Santos (Everett, Mass.) collected a team-high 12 digs and Cote racked up 27 assists.
The Panthers were propelled by to victory by Haley Blunt and Kaitlyn DeStefano who both recorded eight kills for the match. Defensively Adelphia was led by Erika Loomer who had 22 assists and nine digs on the afternoon.
Merrimack (3-17, 0-8 NE-10) will return home for back to back conference games as they will take on Bentley on Tuesday October 18 and American Int'l on Thursday October 20. Both games will take place at 7 p.m. inside the Volpe Gym.
