JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Saint Peter's volleyball team (5-12, 0-6 MAAC) fell to Merrimack (4-13, 1-4 MAAC) in straight sets (21-25, 21-25, 23-25) on Friday at Run Baby Run Arena. The Peacocks wore pink shirts during warmups and pink accessories during the match to raise awareness for breast cancer.
The Peacocks were competitive in every set, but they were unable to capitalize on several opportunities which hurt them in the long run against the Warriors. Saint Peter's tried to slow down the Warriors, but Merrimack's presence at the net was too strong, totaling 14 blocks in the match.
For Saint Peter's,
Valeria Pagan Munoz was the only player to reach double-digit kills, recording 12 while hitting .310. Freshman setter
Alondra Fargas neared a double-double performance with 13 assists and nine digs. The Peacocks will look to bounce back in their next conference matchup against Quinnipiac.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE: The Peacocks and Warriors fought to a 7-7 score early in the set before back-to-back kills put SPU up by two. Facing an 8-11 deficit, Merrimack scored five straight points to take a 13-11 lead. Later on, the Warriors took their largest lead of the set, which forced a Saint Peter's timeout. Pagan Munoz recorded a kill followed by an ace to bring the Peacocks within two, 20-22. The Warriors called a timeout in the wake of the SPU comeback. Out of the break, Merrimack finished the job and won the set, 25-21, following a Saint Peter's attack error.
SET TWO: Merrimack started the second set hot, jumping out to a 5-0 lead to force an SPU timeout. The Warriors then extended their lead to 8-0 before
Elena Bilhartz put an end to the drought with a kill. Later in the set, the Peacocks began to find their footing, going on a 6-2 run to make it 8-14. Saint Peter's came all the way back to tie things up at 14-14 with the help of Pagan Munoz, who reached 10 kills. Once the Peacocks tied it, Merrimack scored the next four points to lead 18-14. SPU kept it close down the stretch, but the Warriors reached set point, 24-21, with an attack error. Merrimack then won the set, 25-21, following a block at the net.
SET THREE: The Peacocks scored the first two points of the set, but the Warriors responded with six unanswered points of their own to lead, 6-2. A kill by
Lara Martinez ended the Merrimack scoring streak. Saint Peter's stormed back in the set with the help of several Warriors' attack errors. The Peacocks trailed 13-14 when a Merrimack challenge was ruled unsuccessful.
Andrea Rodriguez tied things up with an ace, and the tie continued to 16-16 when the Warriors called their first timeout of the set. Late in the set, a successful Merrimack challenge made it 22-22. After the review, the Warriors recorded a kill to go up, 23-22. They then won the set, 25-23, with another kill.
UP NEXT
The Peacocks jump right back into competition tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 11, when they play Quinnipiac at Run Baby Run Arena. The match is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET.
