Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Freshmen
Brooke Leestma and
Kara Haase registered six kills each, but the Merrimack College women's volleyball program dropped a 3-0 decision at Saint Anselm Thursday in non-conference play. Each set saw Merrimack within three points or fewer towards the end of each frame.
The Basics
Score: Saint Anselm 3,
Merrimack 0
Records: Merrimack (2-8) | Saint Anselm (9-4)
Location: Stoutenburgh Gymnasium | Manchester, N.H.
Set Breakdown
- Merrimack turned a 5-3 deficit into an 8-7 advantage following a kill from Leestma in the first set. Trailing 19-14 later in the set, the Warriors won four of the next six points that featured another kill from Leestma to pull within three (21-18). The hosts claimed four of the final five points, however, to take a 1-0 advantage in the match
- Leestma was involved in three straight points (kill, assists, ace) that all went in Merrimack's favor to give the Warriors a 12-11 lead in the middle frame. With the set squared at 18-all, the Hawks won three straight points to take a lead they never relinquished. Merrimack remained within two points, 22-20, but Saint Anselm ended the set on a 3-0 spurt to double its lead
- Saint Anselm got out to an 8-3 lead in the third, but Merrimack held an 11-7 edge over the next 18 points to cut its deficit to one, 15-14. Facing a 23-18 hole, the Warriors went on a 5-0 run headlined by kills for Haase, senior Sofia Basauri as well as an ace for sophomore Rosie Sperduto to tie the game. Saint Anselm used a timeout, and recovered to take the next two points, winning by a two-point margin (25-23)
Top Performers
- Haase posted a career best in kills for her young career, committing only one error on 20 attacks for a .250 hitting percentage
- Junior Catherine Flaherty totaled a team-best seven kills on a team-high 30 attacks while also adding seven digs
- Sperduto totaled team highs in multiple statistics: assists (23), digs (13) and aces (three). The Brentwood, Tenn. native registered a match high in digs, while tying the match high in aces
Notes and Notables
- Merrimack's third-year setter collected her team-leading fifth double-double of the year. Sperduto has doubled up in back-to-back contests and in three of her last five matches
- Leestma tied her career high – set in the first match of the season – with nine digs
- Merrimack's .143 team hitting percentage marked its third highest of the 2018 season
Up Next
Merrimack opens Northeast-10 Conference play on Saturday afternoon when the Warriors face Stonehill at 1 p.m. in Easton, Mass.
