Providence, R.I. – Merrimack Women's volleyball won the final game of the Friar Classic in Providence early Sunday morning in five sets against the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State in five sets that went the distance the Warriors came out on top to earn their second win of the season.
Score: Merrimack:
3, Blue Devils: 2
Records: Merrimack (2-6), Blue Devils (1-8)
How It Happened
It was game time in Providence and the Warriors were ready to end the weekend strong against the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State. In the set first the Warriors were a bit slow to get started making errors that the Blue Devils capitalized on. At one point finding themselves in a 7-13 deficit, the Warriors battled back by taking advantage of errors from the CCSU offense. Two straight kills from
Morgan Thurlow were enough to put the Warriors within one. Attack errors continued to nip the Warriors as the Blue Devils found their lead increasing. The Blue Devils went on to win the first set 25-21 in a close battle.
Looking to spark a comeback, the Warriors kicked off the second set with two straight kills from
Ella Gizmunt. With their first lead of the match the Warriors continued their attack.
Mckenna Shotwell tallied four kills two put Merrimack up 11-8.
Sophia DeBonis got involved to increase the lead even more with a kill and two assists. In the first match of her collegiate career
Mia Izzo added a clutch kill and a block assist to propel the Warriors to a 25-19 win.
Looking to live off the set two momentum, the Warriors shot out of the gate with a 5-2 run. The Blue Devils attempted to mount a comeback but was shut down when
Amanda Gately fired two straight service aces. Kills from three different Warriors helped put them up 14-11. The Warriors were almost at the finish line but faltered, leading to multiple attack errors giving the Blue Devils the comeback win.
With the match on the line, the Warriors didn't back down.
Mckenna Shotwell and
Marissa Kobelski both took over putting up a combined 7 kills putting the Warriors up 11-7.
Sophia DeBonis chimed in for three assists and a service ace during that time. Continuous attack errors from the Blue Devils were taken advantage of by the Warriors. After a five-point streak from Central Connecticut, the game was knotted up 20-20. In the face of defeat the Warriors saw kills from four different players and 3 huge assists from
Lilly Konrad. The Warriors go more than full length to win the fourth set 27-25.
In yet another fifth set this season, the Warriors looked to finish strong. The Blue Devils fought hard out of the gate getting up 4-7. Clutch assists by none other than
Lilly Konrad cut into the Blue Devil lead. In an impressive effort the Warriors went on a 6-0 run to find themselves up for the first time in the set 12-9. Two block assists from
Mia Izzo helped make this happen along with two kills from
Mckenna Shotwell. With the game in the line,
Sophia Debonis put up two assists leading to the Warrior win 15-13.
Stats and Facts:
- Mckenna Shotwell earned a double-double with a career high 20 kills, 18 digs, and 4 service aces
- Sophia DeBonis put up a double-double with a season high 22 assists and 16 digs.
- Ella Maldonado added an impressive 21 digs.
- In her colligate debut, Mia Izzo earned 2 kills and a whopping 7 block assists.
Up Next:
The Warriors are on the road this coming Tuesday, September 16, against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. The match tips off in Durham at 6pm.
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