Links: Box Score
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Merrimack College women's volleyball team visited Long Island University for the first time on Friday evening, dropping a three-set decision to Sharks. Merrimack and LIU played in Brooklyn, at the Sharks' Steinberg Wellness Center.
The Basics
Score: LIU 3,
Merrimack 0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-21)
Records: Merrimack (1-14, 0-8 NEC) | LIU (7-12, 7-1 NEC)
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y. | Steinberg Wellness Center
Set Breakdown:
- LIU won nine of the first 11 points on Friday, building a seven-point advantage in the first set. Merrimack's best portion of the first frame came late in the set, when senior Catherine Flaherty won a pair of kills and Merrimack combined for a block to make it a 22-9 frame. LIU won the last three points, however, to take a 1-0 lead in the match
- A kill for freshman Emily Adams followed by an error for the Sharks brought the second set even at five points apiece. Flaherty registered another kill later in the set, and then back-to-back kills for sophomore Brooke Leestma brought Merrimack's deficit down to two, 13-11. LIU swung the frame in its favor with a 6-0 run that turned a 14-12 match into a 20-12 contest. The teams traded points from there, ending with a 25-15 Sharks victory
- Merrimack played its best in the third set. The Warriors started the set on a 4-1 run, headlined by a pair of points for sophomore Kayla Zinser. Merrimack's lead grew to as many as five, 8-3, but LIU answered with a 7-1 run. With Merrimack ahead, 11-10, the Sharks won six straight points to build a 17-11 advantage. Merrimac powered back, winning nine of the next 13 points to close the gap to on point, 21-20. Sophomore Kara Haase and senior Rosie Sperduto posted two points each during the run for Merrimack. LIU recovered, however, winning four of the next five points to end the match
Notes & Notables
- Haase enjoyed a career performance, tying her career high with eight kills with registering a .400 hitting percentage over 15 attacks
- Leestma and Flaherty followed suit, combined for 11 kills on the evening
- Sperduto led all players with 15 assists on the night, while adding a team-best two service aces. Freshman libero Taelyr Czech added a team-high seven digs
Up Next:
Merrimack rounds out its three-matches-in-three-days stretch tomorrow evening when the Warriors visit Fairleigh Dickinson for a 5 p.m. match in Hackensack, N.J.
