Oct. 25, 2011

Box Score | Post game video with coach McNulty

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Senior Lea Freeman (Methuen, Mass.)landed a match-high 17 kills and three total blocks to lead the River Hawks to a 3-0 sweep of Merrimack College in the Costello Gym on Tuesday night.

The match marked the third time this season UMass Lowell volleyball has beaten the Warriors, with all three matches ending in three sets. The River Hawks improve to 11-7 on the year and 7-4 in conference play, while Merrimack falls to 3-20 overall and 0-11 in Northeast-10 play.

The match scores were 25-17, 25-13 and 25-23.

UMass Lowell took a balanced approach in the opening frame as Freeman and freshman Hannah Rey (San Diego, Calif.)each scored five kills. Leading 21-16, the River Hawks scored four of the next five points, utilizing a trio of kills from Rey to close it out.

Play became more one-sided in the second set as UMass Lowell's offense came alive for a .385 hitting percentage. At the helm of the attack, sophomore setter Olivia Parkins (Dracut, Mass.) dished out 15 assists to feed Freeman and Rey who finished with eight and six kills, respectively. Key to the offense's success was also the play of sophomore libero Carolyn Eddy (Dracut, Mass.)who dug eight balls and kept several plays alive with a great deal of hustle.

The Warriors tried to take back the match in the third, storming to a 17-23 lead on the back of Jenna Reilly's (Northport, N.Y.) five kills. The River Hawks showed resolve after emerging from a timeout to score eight consecutive points behind the serves of Parkins. Parkins picked up 12 more assists and three digs, while Freeman added four additional kills to her resume to secure UMass Lowell's season sweep of Merrimack.

For the night, Freeman totaled 17 kills and five, while Rey trailed slightly with 14 kills and six digs. Brooke Peterson (Del Mar, Calif.)also got involved, scoring nine kills and five digs.

Eddy and Parkins shined in the passing game. Eddy finished with a match-best 18 digs, while Parkins submitted a career-high 37 assists and eight digs.

For the Warriors, Reilly led the club with eight kills and Jackie Jones (Amherst, N.H.) dug a team-best 14 balls.

The River Hawks have just four regular season matches remaining. Up next, UMass Lowell hits the road on Friday to play Southern Connecticut St. at 7 p.m.