NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- Strong play down the stretch helped the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team win its 10th match in a row. The Pioneers picked up a 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-19) Northeast Conference win at Merrimack on Friday.
 
Records:
Sacred Heart: 18-8, 10-1 NEC 
Merrimack: 4-19, 2-9 NEC
 
Top Performers:
Brooke Jeffrey: 10 kills, 2 digs
Sarah Ciszek: 29 assists, 6 kills
Emma Smallcomb: 21 digs
 
Up Next:
Sacred Heart travels to Stonehill on Saturday for a 5 p.m. contest.
 
Of Note:
Set two was the Warriors best chance to take a set off the Pioneers as they had a 19-18 advantage. Two Merrimack errors as well as kills from Jasmine Rogers and Brooke Jeffrey swung the set to the Pioneers. A Rogers' ace and Kate Anderson kill ended the frame.
 
The two teams were evenly match with Sacred Heart's defense being the difference. Anchored by Emma Smallcomb's match-high 21 digs – her third straight match with more than 6.0 digs per set – the Pioneers had a 43-to-32 advantage in digs.
 
Five different Pioneers had at least a half dozen kills, led by Brooke Jeffrey's 10 winners. Reghan Palanchi followed with eight kills while Rogers notched six kills and seven digs. Setter Sarah Ciszek passed out 29 assists to go along with six kills.