Lions Prevail 3-0 Over Vikings

SALEM, Mass. – Courtney McCarthy (Merrimack, N.H.) registered 17 kills and 13 digs to lead Eastern Nazarene to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-16) victory over Salem State on "Think Pink" day on Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymnasium. The Lions go to 13-6 on the year while the Vikings slip to 1-18. 

Ruth Aguilar (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) and McCarthy (Merrimack, N.H.) combined for 14 kills to lead Eastern Nazarene to a 25-22 win in set one. The Lions totaled 17 kills for a .239% hitting percentage. A kill by Danielle Sheehan (Walpole, Mass.) tied the score at 17-all, but the Lions were able to pull away for a three-point victory.

Haley Reed (Goffstown, N.H.) notched five of her team-leading 11 kills in the second set as Salem State built a 16-12 lead. However, Eastern Nazarene roared to a back with seven straight points to take a 19-16 lead. Two service aces by Aguilar and a pair of kills contributed to the run. Eastern Nazarene scored the final five points to win 25-18.

The Lions hit .393% in the third set and committed just four errors in winning 25-16. Six consecutive points off the serve of Amya Altman (Butler, Penn.) gave Eastern Nazarene a commanding 11-5 lead. Salem State battled back and crept to within three points, but kills by McCarthy and Rebecca Thorne (Quincy, Mass.) spurred a 5-1 run as the Lions prevailed 25-16.

Aguilar finished with 12 kills and 19 assists while Altman had a team-high 16 digs. Samantha Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) notched 16 assists and six digs. Eastern Nazarene had nine service aces.  

Sarah Janco (Methuen, Mass.) had seven kills while Emily Hennessy (Hanover, Mass.) and Sheehan combined for 23 digs. Morgan Adams (Scotia, N.Y.) provided 22 assists, six digs and a pair of aces for the Vikings.