NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Visiting Southern New Hampshire University rallied from a 2-0 deficit to stun Merrimack College 3-2 in non-conference women's volleyball action Thursday evening at Hammel Court.  The game marked the season opener for both schools.

The set scores were 23-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-23, 19-17.

Junior Emma Houlihan (Shoreham, N.H.) led Southern New Hampshire with 15 kills on .333 hitting to go along with five solo blocks and five block assists.  Freshman Carolyn Scacchi (Peabody, Mass.) recorded 14 kills, while junior Nina McGouldrick (Richardson, Texas) recorded 10 kills and 16 digs.  Maeghan Higgins (Hesperia, Calif.) had 21 digs, while Catherine Cotton (Murphy, Texas) handed out 50 assists.

Merrimack was led by Stephanie Sheehan's 23 kills and 11 digs, while Tara Stuhr added 53 assists, 10 digs and five block assists.

In the fifth set, Southern New Hampshire found itself down 13-10 after Merrimack reeled off four straight points.  A Scacchi kill and Higgins service ace pulled the Penmen within 13-12, but an attack error allowed the Warriors to serve for match point.  Another Scacchi kill, followed by a Merrimack attack error, tied the set 14-14.  The Penmen took a 16-15 lead following back-to-back attack errors, but saw the hosts tie the set at 16 and 17 before clinching victory after a setting error and a solo block by Houlihan to close it out.

The Penmen were down 20-16 in the fourth set but four straight points capped by a Houlihan kill tied the set at 20.  Tied 23-23, Southern New Hampshire stayed alive on a Megan Salamun (Scottsdale, Ariz.) block and a Scacchi kill.

Southern New Hampshire travels to Lakewood, N.J. this weekend to take part in the Georgian Court tournament.  The Penmen face Mercy College and Caldwell University on Saturday.

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