NORTH ANDOVER, MA – The College of Saint Rose rallied from a 2-0 deficit only to fall in five sets at Northeast-10 Conference rival Merrimack tonight.
The host Warriors (13-4/2-2 NE-10) won the opening two games by a collective five points, 25-22 and 25-23, before the Golden Knights (10-6/1-3 NE-10) rebounded to take the next two sets by identical 25-21 counts. However, Merrimack took the deciding game 15-8 by rattling off the final six points behind three Saint Rose attack errors and kills by junior middle blocker Megan Murray on points 12, 13 and 15.
Sophomore outside hitter
Sarah Kahrs registered a “double-double” via 10 kills and 15 digs to pace Saint Rose. Sophomore setter
Theresa Staulo handed out 41 assists and came up with eight blocks, while sophomore middle hitter
Chelsea Tyler wound up with 10 kills and seven blocks.
Saint Rose also received major contributions from senior libero
Mary German and junior middle hitter
Kelly Ryan. The latter also had 10 kills, while German recorded 32 digs on the backline.
Murray had a match high 18 kills on the evening that helped yield an impressive .289 hitting percentage with just five errors throughout 45 swings. Junior outside hitter Molly Cindric finished with 14 kills and a like number of digs, while junior setter Elyse Lorenz distributed 40 assists and came up with 15 digs to lead the Warriors who have now won three of their last four.
The Golden Knights came back by scoring the last four points that busted open a 21-21 deadlock in the third game. Tyler then delivered three consecutive service aces that put Saint Rose in the driver’s seat 11-3 in the fourth set.
Looking ahead, Saint Rose returns to action tomorrow with a 1:00 pm match at league rival UMass Lowell. Meanwhile, Merrimack has a 5:00 pm home NE-10 date with Le Moyne.
Box Score