Volleyball Continues NEC Success With Five Set Victory Over Stonehill

NORTH EASTON, MASS – The Merrimack College Women's Volleyball team won a 5 set weekend conference match against Stonehill Saturday afternoon to improve to 3-2 in NEC play. 

The Basics
Score: Stonehill 2, Merrimack 3
Records: Stonehill (2-18, 2-3), Merrimack (4-12, 3-2)

How It Happened
It was homecoming weekend on the campus of Merrimack but down in North Easton there was a volleyball match between Stonehill and the Warriors. Another 5 set thriller. Set one started with Merrimack jumping out to a 6-1 lead over the Skyhawks. They continued to add to the lead going up 13-4. Stonehill was able to battle back but it was an insurmountable advantage and Merrimack took the first set 25-18.

The second set was full of runs. At first it was a battle by both squads. A six point and four point run from Merrimack had them up and poised to go up 2 sets to 0. A pair of 5 point runs from Stonehill put them ahead 20-19 before shutting the door completely and winning set two, 25-23. 

Set number three was a war between these two. The teams traded runs, points, kills, and capitalized on mistakes from one another. It was knotted up at 18 a piece with no edge given to either team. The Skyhawks would have a 6-3 run to put them ahead and they would finish out the set scoring 3 of the final 4 points and taking home a 25-23 win.

Merrimack played the role of comeback kids in set 4. They found themselves down early and once again midway through as they fell behind 15-12. A 5 point run would thrust Merrimack into the lead at 22-19. Stonehill gave them a scare scoring 4 straight but it was three points from Merrimack and a kill from Ella Gizmunt to end things.

The fifth set was over in the blink of an eye. Merrimack went up and left no room for Stonehill to get back into it. A 7-2 run to start and then another 5 point run put Warriors up 12-4. MC finished it off with a 3-1 run headlined by a trio of kills by Marilyn Whitcavitch, Marissa Kobelski, and Cate Wright. Warriors win!

Notes and Numbers

• Cate Wright had 13 kills 
• Marilyn Whitcavtich had 13 kills
• Mia Ardila put out 38 assists in the game
• Julz Carlat was a defensive machine with 12 digs

Up Next
The Warriors are back in action next Tuesday as they travel to Durham, NH to play in an out of conference matchup against the Wildcats of New Hampshire.