Links: Box Score
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Merrimack College women's volleyball program played Bryant University for the second time in 10 days on Friday evening, visiting the Chase Athletic Center for the first time in 12 years on Friday night for Northeast Conference (NEC) action. The host Bulldogs prevailed in the match that followed, 3-0, to improve to 5-1 in league play while Merrimack dropped to 0-5.
The Basics
Score: Bryant 3,
Merrimack 0 (25-10 | 25-11 | 25-15)
Records: Merrimack (1-11, 0-5 NEC) | CCSU (10-12, 5-1 NEC)
Location: Smithfield, R.I. | Chase Athletic Center
Set Breakdown:
- Bryant started the night on an 11-4 run, but Merrimack responded with a 3-0 run that featured two points for freshman Lily Blodgett and an ace for sophomore Brooke Leestma. From there, however, Bryant used runs of five straight points and eight straights points to win the first set
- Merrimack had its best hitting set in the second, when Blodgett, sophomore Megan Rumenapp, freshman Emily Adams, sophomore Natasha Vallis and freshman Luna Colozzo all notched points to keep the Warriors within three, 10-7. Merrimack won four points over the remainder of the frame, however, as Bryant gained control of the game to move ahead in the match, 2-0
- With the third set tied at five points apiece, the hosts won five straight to build a 10-5 edge. Merrimack would not go quietly as the visitors trimmed its deficit to two on a pair of occasions, 13-11 and 14-12. The decisive run came at that point for the Bulldogs; Bryant won the next 10 points to double its lead. The Warrior staved off the Bulldogs' first three set points, but Bryant won the match on the fourth
Notes & Notables
- Merrimack's last match at Bryant came in October of 2007, when the Bulldogs and Warriors were rivals in the Northeast-10 Conference
- Rumenapp posted season highs with 10 assists and seven digs
- Blodgett led the program in both kills and blocks on the evening
- Bryant's service game proved effective: the Bulldogs claimed 12 aces to Merrimack's two. Adams joined Leestma with aces for the Warriors
Up Next:
Merrimack returns to Hammel Court tomorrow when the Warriors host Saint Francis Brooklyn at 4 p.m. for the first meeting ever between the Warriors and the Retrievers.
