North Andover, Mass – Women's Volleyball is back for another home game, this time against the Purple Eagles of Niagara. In five unbelievably close sets, the Purple Eagles emerged victorious against the Warriors.
Score: Merrimack:
2, Niagara: 3
Records: Merrimack (3-10), (1-3), Niagara (4-8), (4-0)
How It Happened
Kicking off the first set of the day, the Warriors took advantage of a few errors from the Niagara offense. The Purple Eagles quickly fired back after the errors and took the lead at 8-6. A team effort helped the Warriors stay in it.
Sophia DeBonis tallied a few assists which help Merrimack regain the lead in a close race. The Warriors continued to share the wealth as multiple Warriors helped contribute kills. This time,
Lilly Konrad crazy for three straight assists padding the Warrior lead up to three. A late effort to come back by the Purple Eagles was shut down as
Aubrey Baker and
Morgan Thurlow put it on ice with two kills each.
After a satisfying first set victory, the Warriors looked to extend their lead. Early kills from Baker was enough to give the Warriors a lead. With a lead of three,
Mckenna Shotwell went ballistic for four straight Warrior kills. Two kills following that from
Ella Gizmunt, helped Merrimack extend their lead out to five. Niagara didn't back down though, attack errors from the Warrior offense made it possible for them to get right back into the match. The Purple Eagles rode that momentum to an all-out attack which helped them take the lead. Both teams continued to trade blows, and the Warriors were right back, in it because of multiple assists coming from DeBonis. Eventually in extra time, the Puple Eagles won the second set 26-24.
Knotted up at 1-1, the teams were back at it for an important third set. The Warriors cruised out to an early 5-1 lead, getting two kills from Gizmunt. Errors continued to nip Merrimack as they once again let Niagara back into the match. Niagara carried that momentum into a four-point lead as they reached the halfway point in the set. A few different Warriors helped add points to the board as they were able to tie the game up. In comeback fashion, Merrimack upsets the Purple Eagles for the third set victory.
The Warriors found themselves right where they want to be, on the verge of a match winning set. A few service aces from the Warriors allowed them to jump out to a sizeable lead once again. In usual fashion, the Purple Eagles found their way back in to set with a run that put themselves up 13-8. Niagara continued their assault as they dazed the Warriors to a 9-2 run. Down big in the set, the Warriors couldn't find their way back losing 25-16.
In a five set sudden death, Niagara used the fourth set momentum to leap out to a 4-0 lead. A few errors from the Purple Eagles allowed the Warriors to narrow the lead to two. That was the closest the Warriors got to lead, as the Purple Eagles clawed their way to a five-point lead at 13-8. Three straight attack errors from Niagara made it interesting at the end but they came away with the upsetting victory. Niagara took the match clinching fifth set 15-12.
Stats and Facts
Up Next
Its homecoming and the Warriors face the Canisius Golden Griffins on Saturday the 4
th at 1pm.
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