Volleyball Falls To Merrimack 3-1 In NE-10/ECC Challenge
Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. (Sept. 21, 2012) – The LIU Post volleyball team dropped the first match of its three game NE-10/ECC Challenge this weekend to Merrimack 3-1 (25-22, 26-28, 25-13, 25-22).
The Warriors opened up the first set with four straight points, but LIU Post battled back with three straight points of its own to bring the score to 4-3 in favor of Merrimack. Later in the set the Pioneers were able to tie the set at 20, but the Warriors scored five of the last six points to put the game away with a score of 25-22.
The second set was a hard fought battle with the score being tied twelve different times. LIU Post was able to take advantage of two consecutive errors by the Warriors to put the second set away with a score of 28-26.
The Warriors battled back after the tough loss the set before to take the Pioneers by storm in the third set with a final set score of 25-13. Merrimack opened up the set on a 7-2 run and ended the game on a 16-7 run. The Warriors were able to post a .435 hitting percentage for the set, 0.526 points higher than LIU Post's -.091 percentage.
LIU Post jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the fourth set, but Merrimack later went on a 14-3 run including six straight Jackie Jones serves and five in a row from Madison Burke to lead 18-12. The Pioneers were able to tie the set at 20-20, but errors plagued the Pioneers once again with two consecutive errors ending the set giving the Warriors the 25-22 win.
Makamae Namahoe (Hilo, Hawaii) recorded yet another double-double on the season with 10 kills and 12 digs. Freshman
Rachel Ringor (Honolulu, Hawaii) led all players on the court recording 19 digs.
Melissa Hansen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the Pioneers with 11 kills, and
Katie Barto (East Rockaway, N.Y.) had a Pioneer high 24 assists.
Four Merrimack players finished with double digit kill totals, including Stephanie Sheehan who also added 11 digs to record a double-double on the evening. Brianna Trabucco tossed up an astounding 43 total assists to lead all players on the court.
The Pioneers return to action Saturday, Sept. 22 for the NE-10/ECC Challenge and face University of Massachusetts-Lowell at 1 p.m. and Bentley University at 3 p.m.