Women's Volleyball Drops Two Matches at FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic Friday in Florida
Links: Box Score (Florida Southern) | Box Score (Armstrong State)
LAKELAND, Fla. – The Merrimack College women's volleyball team opened play at the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic against the No. 11 Florida Southern Moccasins and the Armstrong State Pirates, who are receiving votes in the national coaches' poll, on Friday afternoon. The Warriors dropped both matches, by the score of 3-0.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 0 | Florida Southern 3
Score: Merrimack 0 | Armstrong State 3
Records: Merrimack (1-2) | #11 Florida Southern (5-0) | Armstrong State (2-3)
Location: Jenkins Field House | Lakeland, Fla.
How It Happened
In the first match of tournament, the Warriors battled the host Moccasins and their undefeated record. With the Warriors trailing 5-4 in the opening set, the Moccasins tallied six unanswered points to create some space. A kill by senior Katie Cronin (Methuen, Mass.) made it a six-point set at 12-6, but Florida Southern answered with a 9-3 spurt and won the opener, 25-11.
Florida Southern won 17 of the first 23 total points in the second frame en route to a 25-8 set victory. Merrimack battled early on the third set, with kills by junior Juliette McCall (Torrance, Calif.) and sophomore Mary Kate McCarroll (Harrison, Ohio) bring the Navy and Gold within two points at 8-6. A service ace from freshman Sofia Basauri (Beaverton, Ore.) made it a one-point frame at 8-7.
The momentum halted there as the Moccasins went on an 11-3 run to make it 19-10 and finished off the final set for the 3-0 victory. Senior libero Madison Burke (San Jose, Calif.) totaled 11 digs in the match to give her 1,513 for her career, moving her within 18 digs of second play on the all-time list.
Merrimack fared better in the second match of the day against the Pioneers. Junior setter Tara Stuhr (Huntington Beach, Calif.) led the way with 28 assists. McCall and McCarroll combined to have a strong evening on the attacking end. Both players posted seven kills with only two errors, with McCarroll posting a .417 hitting percentage.
Cronin settled in to have five kills on eight total attacks for a .625 attack percentage, which led the team. Those five kills were also a career high.
The Warriors fell behind early, dropping the opening set by 12 points, 25-13. In the second set, the Navy and Gold posted their best effort of the day. As a squad, the Warriors recorded 17 kills with a .136 hitting percentage. Merrimack was within two points at 18-16 before the Pirates went on a 7-3 run to end the frame. In the final set, Armstrong State pulled away again for a 25-16 victory.
Inside The Numbers
- Junior captain Jennifer Cain (Melrose, Mass.), after missing the season opener, came on as a reserve to make her first appearance of 2015. One of three captains, Cain returned with most kills of any player from last season. She recorded five kills against the Pirates
- Two returners also made their season debuts in juniors Madison Creighton (Carlisle, Mass.) and Samantha Albano (Longboat Key, Fla.). Freshmen Amanda Cain (Melrose, Mass.) and Katelynn Marr (Franklin, Mass.) made their collegiate debuts as well
- With a team-leading 15 digs in the second match of the day, Burke now sits just three digs away from securing second place on Merrimack's all-time digs list
- The Warriors utilized a balanced attack against Armstrong, as five players recorded at least five kills and no player registering more than seven
Up Next
The Navy and Gold conclude the tournament tomorrow with matches against Saint Leo (10 a.m.) and Central Oklahoma (5 p.m.). Both programs are receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches' Poll.
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