LOWELL, MA (Oct. 26, 2007) – Junior OH Ale Kuncaitis (Canton, MA) registered 21 kills and 31 digs as Merrimack College defeated UMass Lowell, 3-1, Friday night in a Northeast-10 Conference volleyball match at the Costello Athletic Center.

Game scores were 28-30, 30-28, 30-17, 30-25.

With the loss, UML slipped to 11-18 overall and 6-6 in the NE-10 entering Saturday’s twin bill at home against the universities of Bridgeport (1:00) and New Haven (3:00).

Merrimack, which improved to 14-10 overall and 9-2 in the Conference, meets New Haven at 1:00 and Bridgeport at 3:00 in UML’s auxiliary gymnasium.

Freshman OH Jillian Hadder (Yucaipa, CA) led the River Hawks with 16 kills and 22 digs while sophomore OH Elsa LeGrand (Highlands Ranch, CO) added nine kills, 22 digs and four blocks.

Senior MH Erin Hudd (Melrose, MA) and freshman OH Sarah Coscia (Pittsfield, MA) each chipped in eight kills. Sophomore L Allie Eide (Gresham, OR) led the defense with 25 digs in addition to seven kills.

Sophomore S Nichole Rondeau (Dracut, MA) dished out 43 assists.

Freshman MB Molly Cindric (Westlake Village, CA) added 17 kills and 21 digs while sophomore OH Lisa Barr (Alberta, Canada) chipped in 13 kills and seven digs.

Freshman L Alyssa Pickert (Tinley Park, IL) led the defense with 44 digs while freshman Elyse Lorenz (Frankfort, IL) compiled 56 assists.