Volleyball Opens Season with 3-2 Tough Loss to Gannon Saturday

LOWELL, MA – The Merrimack volleyball team took a 2-1 lead against Gannon University, but the Lady Knights stormed back to edge the Warriors 3-2 in the season opener Saturday afternoon.

Game scores were 22-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-14, and 15-9.

“I’m proud of how we played especially for the first game against a very talented Gannon team,” said two-time Northeast-10 Coach of the Year Joey Pacis. “They would be a top-three team if they were in our conference. We played very well considering the fact we used at least three newcomers in virtually every lineup rotation. We still have plenty to work on, but all in all, it’s a good starting point.”

The Warriors came out strong committing just four attack errors in the first game, while posting a 69% sideout percentage (16 of 23). Freshman Shaunda Forcier (Gonic, NH) and Megan Murray (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) led the way with three kills each for the 25-22 first game victory.

But Merrimack struggled with its attacks the rest of the way, committing 29 attack errors overall, including nine in both the third and fourth game.

After prevailing in a hard-fought 25-22 third game to take the 2-1 lead, Merrimack simply ran out of steam, losing 14-25 and 9-15 in the final two games.

In her first collegiate match, Forcier posted a team-best 15 kills and was one dig shy of a double-double. All-American Molly Cindric (Westlake Village, CA) added 11 kills and six digs but also committed 11 attack errors. Murray finished with nine kills, two aces, and a .389 attack percentage, while setter Elyse Lorenz (Frankfurt, IL) notched 28 assists and six digs. Heidi Wroblicky (Irvine, CA) tallied a team-best 18 digs. Natalee Yeazle (Blaine, MN) added nine digs and six kills in her first career match.

Merrimack also committed 18 receive errors to just five for Gannon. The Lady Knights saved their best for last, hitting a team-best .350 in the final game.

Freshman Lauren Sazama led the way for Gannon with 16 kills, 14 digs and seven aces, including five consecutive aces in the second game as the Lady Knights defeated UMass Lowell, Franklin Pierce and Merrimack over the weekend. They also notched 19 total blocks, compared to just five for the Warriors.

The Warriors (0-1) host Assumption for a non-conference game for their home opener Tuesday at 7 p.m.