Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's volleyball program played its Homecoming Weekend match on Friday afternoon, hosting Central Connecticut State University at Hammel Court. The visiting Blue Devils won, 3-0, in Merrimack's second home Northeast Conference (NEC) match of the year.
The Basics
Score: CCSU 3,
Merrimack 0 (25-19 | 25-13 | 25-16)
Records: Merrimack (1-9, 0-4 NEC) | CCSU (6-9, 2-1 NEC)
Location: North Andover, Mass. | Hammel Court
Set Breakdown:
- Merrimack took an early 5-3 in the first set, behind a 3-0 run that featured points for sophomores Natasha Vallis and Brooke Leestma as well as freshmen Lily Blodgett and Taelyr Czech. The team's traded points from there; trailing 14-12, Leestma and Vallis combined for consecutive points that tied the frame once more. With Merrimack down by just one, 18-17, the visitors ended the set on a 7-2 stretch the gave the Blue Devils the first set
- Central came out strong in the second, taking leads of 5-0 and 10-3. After Merrimack won consecutive points to pull within five, CCSU won six straight to take a 16-5 advantage. Merrimack did not relent, however, winning five of seven points later in frame to close its gap to 10, 23-13, but the Blue Devils won the final two points to take a 2-0 lead in the match
- The Warriors won seven of 10 points early in the last set to tie the game at seven points apiece. With the score at 11-9 in favor of the visitors, Central went on a 9-3 run that gave them control of the match. Senior setter Rosie Sperduto recorded a pair of kills late in the set before Central prevailed, 25-16
Top Performers
- Vallis enjoyed a career night, finishing with a career-best 11 kills and career-best .450 hitting percentage. The second-year lefty committed just a pair of errors on 20 attacks
- Sperduto finished with a match-high 22 assists, her sixth time eclipsing 20 assists this season
- Newcomers Czech and Maegan Hladick combined for 13 of the team's 21 digs
- The team totaled eight block assists led by three for Vallis
Up Next:
The Warriors face Bryant for the second time in three matches next Friday at 6 p.m.
