Franklin Pierce Blanks Merrimack, 3-0
Buchholz leads Ravens with team-high 12 kills;
McConnell collects 1200^th career dig in victory

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (October 27, 2006) – The Franklin Pierce women’s volleyball team posted a 3-0 sweep (30-23, 30-22, 30-22) over Merrimack College in non-conference action this evening at the Volpe Center.  

            Sophomore Nicole Buchholz (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) led the Franklin Pierce attack, registering a team-high 12 kills to go with three solo blocks and seven digs. Freshman Katie Ristow (Miami, Fla./Miami Killian SHS) turned in a double-double performance, posting ten kills and 11 digs, while classmate Caitlynn Parnell (Medina, Texas/Medina) tallied eight kills and three digs in the victory.

            Sophomore setter Karissa Hookstadt (Camarillo, Calif./Camarillo) paced the Ravens offense with 37 assists, while adding seven digs and three kills. Senior captain Michelle McConnell (Elora, Ontario/Centre Wellington) collected her 1200^th career dig as she led the Ravens defensively, recording a team-high 23 digs.

            Franklin Pierce (17-9, 8-5 NE-10) will be in action again on Tuesday as it travels to American International College at 7 p.m. Merrimack College (10-14, 6-6 NE-10) will host UMass Lowell tomorrow at 1 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS