Ravens earn NE-10 win over Saint Anselm, fall to Merrimack in non-conference play

Boxscore at Saint Anselm
Boxscore vs. Merrimack

MANCHESTER, N.H. (September 15, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce University volleyball team split a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Stoughtenburg Gymnasium, earning a 3-0 (31-29, 30-18, 30-6) Northeast-10 Conference victory over Saint Anselm in the early game before nearly coming back from a two-game deficit against Merrimack in a 3-2 (31-29, 30-17, 30-32, 28-30, 15-10) non-conference loss in the afternoon match.

Redshirt freshman Michelle Koike (San Francisco, Calif./Gonzaga University) led Franklin Pierce with a team-high 27 kills on the day, including a career-high 15 kills in the loss to Merrimack. Junior co-captain Nicole Buchholz (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) and sophomore Caitlynn Parnell (Medina, Texas/Medina) both recorded 21 kills on the day, with Buchholz adding a combined 20 blocks to lead all players.

The Ravens played superbly in the first match of the afternoon, holding off host Saint Anselm in a tough first game before cruising to the final two games and the 3-0 match victory. Franklin Pierce did not record an attack error in the final game (11 kills on 17 attacks, a.647 percentage) and forced the Hawks into a negative hitting percentage (-.010) for the match. In the final two games, the Ravens ceded only seven kills and 24 points, including a season-low six points allowed in the final game.

Franklin Pierce nearly pulled off its second two-set comeback of the year against Merrimack in the second match, but the Ravens could not pull out the fifth game in a 3-2 loss to the Warriors. Four Ravens reached double figures in kills, as Koike and Buchholz had 15 each while Parnell and sophomore Megan Feldmeth (South Pasadena, Calif./South Pasadena) each recorded 11.

The Ravens also received solid efforts from junior co-captain Karissa Hookstadt (Camarillo, Calif./Camarillo), who recorded 52 assists and 11 digs, and freshman Chelsie Kohout (Harrison Township, Mich./L'Anse Creuse), who posted a season-high 30 digs. The pair also combined for nine service aces in the two matches.

Franklin Pierce (6-8, 2-1 NE-10) will return to Northeast-10 play on Wednesday night, when the Ravens travel to Southern New Hampshire University to take on the Penmen beginning at 7 p.m.