WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven women’s volleyball team defeated Merrimack College 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-16) Friday night at Charger Gymnasium. The Chargers improved to 8-4 overall and 4-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the win. The Warriors fell to 3-12 overall and 0-3 in the NE-10.

Sophomore Amber Cannady (Yonkers, N.Y./Charles E. Gorton) paced the Chargers with 15 kills with only four errors on 29 attempts (.379 hitting percentage). Freshman Kaulana Ane (Paia, Hawaii/Kamehameha) and Kristy Atufunwa (Denver, Colo./Denver East) each tallied eight kills, while Ane boasted a .467 hitting percentage and four blocks on the night. Atufunwa added two blocks. Chelsey Alpough (Torrance, Calif./South / Western New Mexico Univ. ) ran the offense and dished out 35 assists, while Heather Ladao (West Covina, Calif./Rowland ) led the defense with 22 digs.

In the opening set, UNH and Merrimack went point-for-point with each other. The Chargers held a slight advantage early in the match, but the Warriors battled back each time. Merrimack led 17-15 before New Haven went on a 5-0 run, sparked by a kill from Ane, to take a 20-17 lead. UNH did not look back and led for the remainder of the set. An error by Merrimack gave the Chargers a 25-20 win in the opening set.

New Havne opened the second set much stronger, taking a 7-4 lead off a Cannady kill early in the set. Merrimack fought their way back into the set and brought the score even at 11-11. The teams exchanged points and tied the score five different times before back-to-back kills by Keidy Candelaria (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Bayamon Military Academy) gave UNH a two-point lead, 18-16. New Haven led until Merrimack tied the set at 22-22 off a UNH error. Cannady then recorded two unanswered kills to give the Chargers a 24-22 lead. The Chargers earned their final point off a Merrimack error and took a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third and final set was all New Haven. The Chargers opened a comfortable three point lead early, and despite a Merrimack rally midway through the set, Cannady and Atufunwa led the Chargers down the stretch. UNH led 12-11 before a 4-0 run gave them a 16-11 lead. The Chargers then cruised and Cannady put down the final kill of the match to take a 25-16 victory in the final set.

New Haven returns to action on Tuesday, October 4 when they host Assumption College at Charger Gymnasium. Match time is set for 7 p.m. For complete match coverage, including live video and live statistics, visit www.NewHavenChargers.com.