NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.– The Merrimack College men's volleyball team won in a hard-fought five set battle against the Dominican University Chargers on Saturday evening. The Warriors combined for 64 kills to win the match 3-2.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack:
3 Dominican: 2
Records: Merrimack (11-6), Dominican (5-17)
How It Happened
Logan Whitaker set the pace in the first set delivering three kills in the first four points of the frame.
Isaiah Vogel followed the momentum, driving two kills to double the lead. Dominican answered with a powerful 5-1 drive to take their first lead of the afternoon. The Warriors kept the score tight by capitalizing off a slew of Charger offensive errors. From there,
Reece Lindstrom set three powerful kills to put the Warriors ahead two. Both teams traded points for the next few serves until a 4-1 run from Dominican instigated another lead change. The Chargers held the momentum for the final three points resulting in a 26-24 win.
Dominican commanded an early 8-4 lead in the second set however, seven Chargers' errors gave the Warriors a promising opportunity. Merrimack scored four consecutive points featuring two kills from
Isaiah Vogel to gain a one-point lead. Dominican would score three more points however, the Warriors remained persistent collecting three points of their own with the help of a
Kyle Wagner service ace. A late 3-0 run for the Chargers would put them over 25-22 to win the second set.
In the third set Dominican again caught an early advantage however, the Warriors made up ground with five consecutive points driven by
Kai Vogel. The Chargers secured five points to go up 13-10. It would then be
Isaiah Vogel serving to post four back-to-back points for the Warriors, forcing a Dominican timeout. The Chargers were unable to reset as the Whitaker – Vogel duo made four kills to win the set by a score of 25-22.
The Warriors rode this momentum all the way into the fourth set, extending a 9-5 lead early on. They quickly doubled their lead with a
Kai Vogel service ace followed by a kill from
Isaiah Vogel. The Warriors continued to attack scoring three back-to-back points followed by two more kills from
Nick Tidik and
Logan Whitaker.
Isaiah Vogel would bury the last kill to win set four 25-18.
In the fifth and final set of the match Merrimack held the lead up until the fourth point. Both teams then traded points, tying the score again at eight. From there Dominican notched four unanswered points to go up 11-8.
Logan Whitaker helped the Warriors ignite a 3-0 run to tie the score yet again at 11. Dominican pulled ahead one, however
Reece Lindstrom made a crucial assist to even the scoring.
Isaiah Vogel had a service ace to put the Warriors up one. The Warriors sealed the deal capitalizing off two Charger's offensive errors, to win the match 13-15.
Stats and Facts
- Logan Whitaker led the way with a season-high 26 kills
- Kai Vogel notched a double-double featuring 14 kills and 12 assists
- Isaiah Vogel also produced double-digit kills with 17
- Reece Lindstrom paced all Warriors with a season-high 48 assists
- Nick Tidik led the Warriors defensive effort with 4 blocks
Up Next
The Warriors are back in action Friday March 28 when they play St. Thomas Aquinas for the second time this season right here in Hammel Court. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
