Box Score BOX SCORE
When and Where: September 26, 2017 – Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Fieldhouse)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 3, Merrimack College 0
Records: SNHU 3-7, Merrimack 3-11
Junior Priscila Castro (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) recorded 11 kills on .321 hitting to go along with 10 digs, as the Southern New Hampshire University women's volleyball team swept past Merrimack College, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-15), in non-conference action Tuesday night at the SNHU Fieldhouse.
With the opening set tied, 5-5, Merrimack ripped off an 8-1 run to go in front, 13-6. Southern New Hampshire responded, however, with five straight as part of a 10-5 run that trimmed its deficit to 18-16. Four different Penmen contributed a kill during the stretch, including sophomore Amanda Costales (Wantagh, N.Y.), who turned in a pair. After the Warriors nudged the gap to three, the Penmen reeled off five straight as part of a 6-1 run that included two kills by senior Marisa Coronis (Hudson, N.H.) and put SNHU on top, 22-21. Two straight points put Merrimack back in the lead, but a kill from Coronis tied it before her service ace gave the Penmen a 24-23 edge. Castro's kill off a set from sophomore Joanne Coffey (Merrimack, N.H.) would end the stanza and give Southern New Hampshire a 1-0 lead.
Merrimack again looked on its way to taking a set and tying the match, leading 15-11 in set No. 2, but an 11-2 blitz powered SNHU in front, 22-17. Castro tallied two kills and a pair of blocks during the run, Costales added a kill and three blocks, and junior Jessica Dillon (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) posted two kills and a stuff. Merrimack stopped the bleeding with two straight points to close within three, but a pair of kills from Castro and an attack error on Merrimack made it 2-0.
The Warriors again jumped out to the early lead in the third set, going ahead 10-5 before Southern New Hampshire responded with four-in-a-row as part of a an 11-1 rush that gave it a 16-11 lead. Castro and Coronis each contributed three kills, with Dillon adding two and a service ace. The lead was 21-15 when four straight, including kills from Dillon and Castro, finished the match.
Coronis posted 10 kills and seven digs, with Dillon, who hit .429, narrowly missing a triple-double as she turned in a nine-kill, nine-assist, eight-dig performance, while adding a pair of service aces and two blocks. Costales chimed in with five kills on .364 hitting and six blocks. Coffey handed out 21 helpers to go with five digs, while senior Kathleen Schurman (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) collected 16 digs. Senior Carolyn Scacchi (Peabody, Mass.) had three kills – all in the first set – and hit .429.
Notes:
-The win snapped a five-match losing skid for the Penmen.
-Southern New Hampshire outhit Merrimack in all three sets, including .464-.029 in the third, as well as .320-.158, overall.
-Senior Amanda Gendron (Mont Vernon, N.H.) celebrated her 21st birthday with the victory.
Up Next:
The Penmen return to action Friday, Sept. 29 (7 p.m.) when they take on Bentley University. SNHU is back home Saturday, Sept. 30 (1 p.m.) when it plays host to Saint Michael's College at the Fieldhouse on Girls and Women in Sport Day.
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