Volleyball Wins at Merrimack, 3-0, on Saturday

The Central Connecticut volleyball team won in straight sets, 3-0, at Merrimack on Saturday in Northeast Conference play in North Andover, MA. The Blue Devils' defense limited the Warriors' attack to a .070 hitting percentage in the victory.

GAME INFORMATION
Score:  CCSU 3, Merrimack 0 (31-29, 25-14, 25-16)
Records: CCSU (12-12, 6-6 NEC), Merrimack (4-20, 2-10 NEC)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, MA

KEY MOMENTS 

• Central used an early run of seven straight points to build an 8-2 advantage. Isabella Bratzke opened the streak with a kill and then served six straight points. Merrimack would claw back and tie the set at 23-23 following four consecutive points. The teams would go back and forth until kills by Isabelle Roufs and Nyjha Marcelin won the set for CCSU.
• In the second set, Lauren Milani had back-to-back kills to start a run of five straight points as CCSU went ahead 6-3. The Blue Devils would not trail in the set and built the lead to as much as 21-8. Central won the set on a block by Roufs.
• CCSU trailed, 5-2, in the beginning of the third set, but would battle back and go ahead, 10-8, after two kills by Weronika Poczynek. The Blue Devils would not trail again in the set and closed the match, outscoring Merrimack, 5-1.

QUOTABLE

"We'ree extremely happy to pick up two wins this weekend and remain in a fight for the top four in the conference," said head coach Linda Sagnelli. "We're also happy for Natalie [Novak] and congratulate her on picking up her 1,000th career assist today!"

NUMBER TO KNOW

-.105 - After Merrimack hit .269 in the opening set, the CCSU defense held the Warriors to negative attack percentages, including a -.105 in the third set when Merrimack had nine errors and just five kills.

NOTES 

• CCSU swept the season series and has gone 7-0 all-time against Merrimack.
• Poczynek had a match-high 11 kills and nearly had a double-double with nine digs.
• Natalie Novak had 18 assists, her 13th straight match with double-figure assists. She also moved her career total to 1,003 assists.
• Margaret Nolan led the Blue Devils with 12 digs - her career-best in an NEC match.

UP NEXT
CCSU wraps up the regular season with two matches at home next weekend, beginning with a match against Saint Francis U on Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Links to live stats and video to follow the matches are available HERE.