Links: Box Score
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Merrimack College women's volleyball team faced the University of Hartford in its penultimate non-conference match on Thursday evening, dropping a three-set decision to the host Hawks. Sophomore
Natasha Vallis enjoyed one of her best attacking efforts of the season with a team-high 10 kills while freshman libero
Taelyr Czech contributed 10 digs in her return to the lineup.
The Basics
Score: Hartford 3,
Merrimack 0 (25-19 | 25-14 | 25-11)
Records: Merrimack (1-18, 0-11 NEC) | Hartford (12-11, 3-3 America East)
Location: West Hartford, Conn. | U. Hartford Volleyball Gym
Set Breakdown:
- Vallis collected two kills, senior Catherine Flaherty added another and senior Rosie Sperduto struck an ace that enabled Merrimack to take a 4-1 lead. Leading 7-6, Hartford won five straight points to build a four-point lead. After a block for rookie Emily Adams brought Merrimack within one, 12-1, the hosts won five of the next six points to take a 17-12 edge. Down 21-15, freshman Taylor Sawyer started a 3-0 spurt that trimmed the Warriors' deficit in half, but Hartford won four of the final five points to secure a 1-0 lead
- Hartfored enjoyed a 14-3 run to start the middle set, surging forward out of the gates. Later in the set, Merrimack won seven of 11 points to post its best stretch of the set. Freshmen Luna Colozzo, Lilly Blodgett, Flaherty and Vallis all recorded points during that stretch. Hartford won the frame, however, to take a 2-0 lead
- The hosts kept their momentum by winning seven of the third set's first eight points. Merrimack went on a 6-4 run, however, to trim its deficit to four. Czech notched and ace while one kill each for Vallis and classmate Brooke Leestma highlighted the run. Later in the set, however, a run of eight straight points for Hartford enabled the hosts to clinch the match
Notes & Notables
- Vallis registered her third match of the season with at least 10 kills, which is also the third time in her career that she's finished in double digits. The lefty hitter's .333 hitting percentage was her second highest of the season, as well
- Flaherty posted an efficient hitting day as well, finishing with just one error on 19 attacks
- Sperduto returned to the lineup and finished with a team-best 12 assists
- Blodgett led Merrimack in the blocking department, totaling three block assists
Up Next:
Merrimack returns to league play tomorrow – still in the Nutmeg State – when the Warriors visit Central Connecticut State University for a 7 p.m. match in New Britain, Conn.
