Women's Volleyball Secures Five Set Home Victory

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. — The Merrimack College Women's volleyball team secured their first NEC win with a thrilling victory over Saint Francis (PA). 

The Basics
Score: Merrimack 3, Saint Francis(PA) 2
Records: Merrimack (2-10,1-0), Saint Francis(PA) (5-7, 0-1)

How It Happened
WOW. The only way to describe this match is WOW. Up and down affair that saw a little bit of everything throughout. The first set started with Merrimack taking an early 5-1 lead before the Red Flash struck back. A 5-0 run gave SFU the 8-7 lead before the teams went point for point for the remainder of the set. The Red Flash was up 23-18 late in the set before a ferocious fury of points rained down from Merrimack. The Warriors would tie things up at 24 and it would take everything out of Saint Francis to come away with a 28-26 set 1 win. 

The second set was headlined by a forceful run from the Warriors that saw them trailing at first but then quickly out to a 11-5 lead and a stranglehold of the 2nd set. However, SFU fought back into this one making it a game and putting the Warriors on their heels as they tied it at 13 before Merrimack put together a strong finish and won set 2, 25-20. 

The third set commenced with a SFU 5-1 lead that quickly turned into a tie game at 5 after Merrimack capitalized on a handful of errors. Back and forth the two teams went until MC put together a 4-0 run late which saw them take over this set and end up with a 25-21 win to put them up 2 sets to 1. 

The fourth set of the game was all Saint Francis early on and into the middle of the set as they took a commanding 23-12 lead and looked poised to send this one to a fifth and final. But not so fast. The Warriors came charging back scoring 7 of 8 points and putting immense pressure on the Red Flash with a rowdy home crowd on their side. SFU was not phased and picked up the 25th and final point of the set leading us into a rubber match win or go home scenario.

There's just no possible way this match could get any better, right? Wrong. The fifth and final set might have been the most entertaining of the evening. Great plays, defensive saves, a riled up MC fan base and much more. The two teams split the first 10 points and were knotted up at 5. Merrimack then had a four to nothing run that saw them take control of the match. A couple of bursts from Saint Francis put them in striking distance and put pressure back on the home team. The Warriors lead 14-11 and then a massive two point swing put the first NEC win in major jeopardy. However, it was the defense that came up in a massive way as Julz Carlat and Marissa Kobelski, both known for their scorching hot spikes, we're able to block the final kill attempt of the night and send the Red Flash packing with a loss and keeping a perfect home conference record. What a night it was at Hammel Court for the Merrimack College Women's volleyball team.

Notes and Numbers

• Hannah Webber had a career high 18 kills on the night
• Julz Carlat had 12 kills and an outstanding 16 digs 
• Mia Ardila had 3 kills to pair with an absolutely absurd 36 assists

Up Next
Merrimack will stay at home for a match against NEC newcomer, Le Moyne College Saturday the 23rd at 4:00 PM.