Volleyball Suffers Five Set Defeat at Merrimack

Box Score Merrimack's Aubrey Baker posted a match-high 20 kills on 51 swings to hit at a .314 efficiency, guiding the Warriors in a 3-2 (24-26, 23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-13) comeback victory over Canisius in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference volleyball action Saturday afternoon at Hammel Court in North Andover, Mass.

Merrimack snaps a two-match skid, improving to 4-10 (2-3 MAAC) with the win. Canisius, meanwhile, slipped to 4-11 (2-3 MAAC) with the loss.

Morgan Thurlow added 10 kills on 24 swings for a .375 attack percentage for the Warriors' offense. Sophia DeBonis aided the cause with 31 assists while Ella Maldonado recorded a match-best 25 digs.

For Canisius, senior Bella Mosquera led the Golden Griffins with 12 kills for her seventh straight match with double-digit marks in that category. Senior Ella Bourque dished out a match-high 41 assists. Defensively, junior Brenda Reynaga posted 28 digs.

With the two sides even at 24-24 in the late stages of the opening set, a kill from Lenik followed by a Merrimack attack error gave Canisius a 26-24 victory and a 1-0 advantage in the match. The Blue and Gold jumped out to an 11-8 lead to start the second set before Merrimack stormed back late to tie the set at 23-23. The Griffs once again were able to close out the set, using a kill from Mosquera and a Warriors attack error to grab a 25-23 decision and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Merrimack used a 14-5 run to post a 25-22 third set victory followed by a 25-17 win in the fourth frame to force a decisive fifth set.

In the deciding set, Canisius held an 8-6 edge before the Warriors scored eight of the next 11 points to force match point, 14-11. The Griffs tallied the next two points to get within one, but a kill by Amanda Gately secured a 15-13 victory and the match.

MATCH NOTES
• Canisius and Merrimack met for the second time in series history with the Warriors prevailing in both contests. Merrimack joined the MAAC prior to the 2024 season.
• The Griffs are 2-3 (1-1 MAAC) in five-set matches this season.
• Sophomore Olivia Van Kooten has multiple service aces in four of the team's last five outings.
• Three Griffs, Mosquera, freshman Madi Cowan and redshirt sophomore Julia Lenik tallied double-digit kills in the loss.
• Junior Kalia Reisma recorded nine kills on 20 swings to hit at a .350 clip, marking the sixth time this season that the Fort Myers, Fla. native hit at .300 or above.

UP NEXT
Canisius continues its four-match road swing at Iona and Manhattan next weekend. Friday night's match with the Jaspers is slated for a 7 p.m. start on the Jasper Sports Network while Saturday's match at Iona is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Ella Bourque: S; 5' 11"; Junior; Sports Performance Volleyball Club

#14 Bella Mosquera: MB; 6' 2"; Junior; Sports Performance Volleyball Club

#15 Kalia Reisma: MB; 6' 0"; Sophomore; Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy

#1 Olivia Van Kooten: DS/L; 5' 7"; Freshman; Mission Volleyball

#5 Madi Cowan: OH/L; 5' 9"; Freshman

#7 Julia Lenik: OH; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#11 Brenda Reynaga: L; 5' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#6 Ella Bourque
: 5' 11"; Junior; Sports Performance Volleyball Club
: S

#14 Bella Mosquera
: 6' 2"; Junior; Sports Performance Volleyball Club
: MB

#15 Kalia Reisma
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; Florida Gulfside Volleyball Academy
: MB

#1 Olivia Van Kooten
: 5' 7"; Freshman; Mission Volleyball
: DS/L

#5 Madi Cowan
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: OH/L

#7 Julia Lenik
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: OH

#11 Brenda Reynaga
: 5' 3"; Junior
: L