Links: Box Score (Match 1) |
Box Score (Match 2)
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Sophomore
Maegan Hladick of the Merrimack College women's volleyball team combined for 13 kills on 45 attacks with only four errors for a .200 hitting percentage, including a career-best 10-kill performance in the second match, putting forth a strong effort for the Warriors against Central Connecticut State University in Northeast Conference (NEC) play on Tuesday at Detrick Gymnasium.
Central Connecticut prevailed in the two matches, however, winning in three sets in each instance. The Warriors now turn their attention to this Friday when Merrimack plays its first home matches of the spring against Fairleigh Dickinson University at Hammel Court.
The Basics
Score (Match 1): Central Connecticut 3,
Merrimack 0 (25-11 | 25-11 | 25-14)
Score (Match 2): Central Connecticut 3,
Merrimack 0 (25-6 | 25-22 | 25-14)
Records: Merrimack (0-6, 0-4 NEC) | Central Connecticut (2-2, 2-2 NEC)
Location: New Britain, Conn. | Detrick Gymnasium
Set Breakdown (Match 1):
- Sophomore Taylor Vartanian and junior Natasha Vallis each recorded kills in the early portion of the first set. The team's traded points to start, with CCSU holding a 7-6 edge. At that point however, the hosts used an 11-1 run to build an 18-7 advantage. Sophomore Quinn Kellogg and junior Sophie Meyers registered block assists, while junior Brooke Leestma and Hladick added kills down the stretch, but Central Connecticut won the opener, 25-11
- Meyers and Vallis combined for a block while junior Kayla Zinser joined Leestma and Hladick with kills as the Warriors remained within three of the Blue Devils, 10-7, through 17 points. The Blue Devils closed the second on another prolonged run though, increasing their lead in the match to 2-0
- Merrimack recovered from a 12-3 deficit in the third set to trim the margin to five points. The Warriors used a 6-2 run to do so, which was started by a kill from Leestma and finished with another point for Hladick. Later on, junior Megan Rumenapp posted a kill to keep the team within five, 17-12, but the Blue Devils won eight of the final 10 points to win the match, 3-0
Set Breakdown (Match 2):
- Central enjoyed a strong performance in the first set to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Hladick's match started with two kills in the opening set
- The Warriors' best sustained play came in the middle game. Down 9-5, Merrimack used a 7-0 run to grab a 12-9 edge over Central Connecticut. Vartanian put forth three block solos during the run, while Leestma and Hladick had one kill each to account for five of the seven points. Later on, Kellogg dished out assists to sophomore Taylor Sawyer, Leestma and Meyers to maintain a 15-13 lead. After Central Connecticut went ahead briefly, 21-19, the Warriors scored three straight points to pull ahead, 22-21. Vartanian and Sawyer had a kill and service ace, respectively, in that 3-0 burst. The Blue Devils recovered there, scoring the set's final four points to win the frame
- Central took off to start the third set, building a 17-6 lead. The Warriors showed fight at that point, scoring the next four points. Sawyer started the run with a kill, which was followed by an ace for Leestma and two points for Hladick. Sophomore Taelyr Czech added an ace of her own to keep the team within seven, 19-12, but a 6-2 run for the hosts ended the match
Notes & Notables
- Hladick set a career high with 10 kills in the second match, while also posting her highest single-match hitting percentage of .267. She added a career-best seven digs as well
- Vartanian registered her first four career block solos on Tuesday. The sophomore currently leads the team with 13.0 blocks this season for an average of 0.76 per set
- The team's three service aces in the second match of the day were its second highest single-match total of the year
- Kellogg led the team with 11 assists in the second match. Freshman Ashley Gajdzik contributed seven helpers in the first contest of the day
Up Next:
The Warriors host Fairleigh Dickinson with the first match of the day beginning at 2 p.m. Both matches on Friday can be streamed via NEC Front Row.
