Milani and Poczynek Post Double-Doubles; Volleyball Falls in Five at Merrimack

Central Connecticut volleyball would win the third and fourth sets to push the match to the limit, but ultimately fell at Merrimack, 3-2, on Thursday in North Andover, MA. Lauren Milani and Weronika Poczynek each notched a double-double in the match.

Central travels to Holy Cross on Saturday.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score:  CCSU 2, MERRIMACK 3 (25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 22-25, 15-10)
Records: CCSU (0-6), MER (1-7)
Location: Hammel Court | North Andover, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils held a 8-4 lead in the opening set after running off four consecutive points. Weronika Poczynek started it with a kill and then added two service aces. CCSU would lead by as much as 14-9, but a 5-1 run by the Warriors would tie the set at 20-20. After a kill by Olivia Keckler tied the set, Merrimack would score three straight to win the frame.
• A service ace by Amanda Tokam would give CCSU an early 8-4 lead in set two. The teams would trade leads in a back-and-forth set before a kill by Kaylin Hadley and a Merrimack error tied it at 22-22. The Warriors would respond with three straight kills to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Central trailed, 5-4, in the third set before a run of five straight points turned the tide. After three Warrior errors, Keckler would notch consecutive aces to make it 9-5. The teams would be knotted momentarily at 10-all, but a kill by Lauren Milani and a block by Kylee Baranski and Hadley would spark a 7-2 run and CCSU would close out the set with a block and a kill by Tokam.
• A run of three straight points would put Merrimack ahead, 9-5. CCSU would climb back and use a run of five points to take a 17-15 lead after a kill by Keckler. Central would extend the lead to 21-17 after two aces by Milani and a kill by Poczynek. A kill by Milani would finish the set and send it to a decisive fifth frame.
• The fifth set was tied at 4-4 before Merrimack took control with five unanswered points. A block by Tokam and Baranski would end the Warriors' run, but the Blue Devils would be unable to get closer than five points the rest of the match.

NUMBER TO KNOW

8 – Central recorded a season-high eight total blocks in the match.

NOTES

• CCSU is 10-1 all-time against Merrimack.
• Poczynek added four aces and two blocks, while collecting her first double-double of the year with 12 kills and 10 digs.
• Milani had three aces to go with 12 kills and a team-high 13 digs.
• Baranski finished with 33 assists to go with two kills, six digs and two blocks.
• Hadley had a hand in a team-high four blocks.
• Keckler had seven kills, seven digs, four aces and two blocks.
• Annabelle Denomme had 10 digs and posted a .966 reception percentage.
• Central had a season-high 13 aces in the match. 

UP NEXT

• Central travels to Holy Cross on Saturday. 

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