NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Looking to keep the momentum going into the Northeast Conference championship, the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team quickly dismissed Merrimack on Wednesday. The Pioneers won the opening match 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-21) as well as the nightcap 3-0 (25-4, 25-12, 25-15).

Records:
Merrimack: 0-12, 0-1 NEC
Sacred Heart: 11-3, 10-0 NEC

Top Performers:
Sarah Ciszek (SHU): 30 assists, 8 digs (GM 1); 25 assists, 13 digs (GM 2)
Emma Smallcomb (SHU) 23 digs (GM 1): 20 digs (GM 2)
Jasmine Rogers (SHU): 10 kills, 8 digs (GM 1); 11 kills, 9 digs (GM 2)
Olivia Fairchild (SHU): 10 kills (GM 1); 11 kills, 4 blocks (GM 2)

Up Next:
The Pioneers will host the NEC Championship match Saturday at 7 p.m. against LIU.

Of Note:
SHU got off to a fast start, producing a 14-4 lead in the first set thanks to three-straight Reghan Palanchi kills. The Pioneers trailed 12-10 in the second set, but setter Sarah Ciszek rattled off seven-straight points to swing the set in SHU's favor. Merrimack got within 22-20 in the third set, but Jasmine Rogers produced two of her match-high 10 kills to secure the win.

Led by libero Emma Smallcomb's match-high 23 digs – her highest three-set total of the season – Sacred Heart had a 51-37 advantage in digs. That helped SHU to a .284-to-.039 hitting advantage.

The Pioneers dominated match two even more, jumping out to an 18-2 advantage in the opening stanza. Set two saw Smallcomb serve 10-straight points that included four Olivia Fairchild kills. Another Fairchild kill and Merrimack error built a 10-3 lead in the third set as SHU rolled to victory.

For the second match in a row, Rogers and Fairchild tied for the match-high with 11 kills. Ciszek and Smallcomb both turned in double-doubles as Ciszek had 25 assists and 13 digs while Smallcomb record 20 digs and 13 assists. 

SHU hit a season-high .356 while limiting the Warriors to -.097. The Pioneers produced 57 digs – a three-set high this season – while limiting Merrimack to just 33.