Links: Box Score
Video: Highlights //
Catherine Flaherty Comments
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Things appeared to be moving smoothly for the Merrimack College women's volleyball program Tuesday evening, winning the first two sets against visiting Franklin Pierce to put the Warriors in the driver's seat in their home opener at Hammel Court. The visitors had other ideas, however, winning the next two frames to force a winner-take-all fifth set. The hosts recovered, using a 5-1 run to break a 7-7 deadlock before triumphing, 15-12, in front of a raucous on-campus crowd.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 3, FPU 2 (
25-16 | 26-24 | 14-25 | 22-25 |
15-12)
Records: Merrimack (3-9, 1-1 NE10) | Franklin Pierce (4-14, 0-2 NE10)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, Mass.
Set Breakdown
- Merrimack got off to a scorching start, jumping ahead by a 10-3 margin before a Ravens timeout. Franklin Pierce clawed within four, 11-7, before a Warriors run that brought their advantage up to eight (15-7). The hosts used a timeout later in the game holding a 19-14 lead, and used a 6-2 spurt out of the stoppage to claim a 25-16 victory
- The hosts led the majority of the second set as well, but surged forward with an 8-2 run that put the Warriors within two points of the set (23-14). The Ravens proved feisty, recording eight unanswered points to stave off multiple set points and tie the frame at 24-all. Freshman Kara Haase recorded the point that gave Merrimack its ninth set point, which went in its favor on an error by the visitors
- A 9-0 run midway through the third set proved to much for the Warriors to overcome. By the end of the run, Franklin Pierce owned a 21-9 advantage that led to the evening's fourth set
- The fourth set saw the Warriors nearly rally after trailing throughout the majority of the frame. Down 23-18, freshmen Brooke Leestma and Sophie Meyers combined for three straight kills as part of a 4-0 stretch that brought the Warriors within one. Franklin Pierce was able to win the final two points, however, to send the match to its final frame
- The programs traded points to start the fifth set, sitting at a 7-7 draw through 14 points. Senior captain Sofia Basauri posted the kill that forced each squad to switch sides, and the point that started the match-deciding 5-1 run. Another kill from Meyers ended the evening and gave the hosts the victory in their home opener
Top Performers
- Junior Catherine Flaherty paced the offense with team highs in kills (14) and attacks (44). She only committed four errors on the evening to post a .227 hitting percentage, and added 13 digs for her second double-double of the season
- Classmate Sydney Buran enjoyed her best career match. Stepping into the setter position midway through the third set, the Cohoes, N.Y. native registered a career-high 26 digs and a career-best 11 digs for her first-ever double-double
- For just the third time in her career and the first time this season, senior Amanda Cain broke the 20-dig mark with a team-best 21. Leestma was the fourth Warrior with double-digit digs, accumulating a career-best 12 over five sets
- Meyers led the team with a .333 hitting percentage, and blocked a team-high four attacks (2 solos, two assists)
Notes and Notables
- Tuesday marked the first five-set match at Hammel Court in nearly two years to the day. Merrimack and East Stroudsburg University played a five-set tilt on Sept. 16, 2016 to kick start the Merrimack Invitational
- The victory was Merrimack's first at home in five sets since Nov. 8, 2014 against Adelphi
- The Warriors snapped a three-match losing skid to Franklin Pierce, picking up their first win since October of 2014
- Merrimack edged Franklin Pierce, 13-8, in service aces. Both Leestma (5) and Cain (4) set career highs
Up Next
The Warriors host Southern New Hampshire for a non-conference match on Thursday at 7 p.m. from Hammel Court.
