FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team cruised to a straight-set win over Merrimack on Saturday evening in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play at Fairfield's Leo D. Mahoney Arena. 

Camryn Luginbuhl continued her strong stretch of play, finishing with a double-double on 12 kills and 13 digs. Luginbuhl also tied a career-high with four aces. Gaby Zovko also tallied a strong outing with 30 assists on the team's 43 kills. Emily Sawyer tied her career-high with eight kills, while hitting an outstanding .800 on 10 attempts. 

Records:
Sacred Heart: 7-9, 3-1 MAAC
Merrimack: 2-13,1-3 MAAC
 
Top Performers:
Camryn Luginbuhl: 12 kills, 13 digs, 4 aces
Gaby Zovko: 30 assists, 7 kills, 5 digs, 3 aces
Emily Sawyer: 8 kills

How It Happened:
The Pioneers stormed out to an early 7-1 lead in the first set. Cristina Montanez buoyed the run with three of her six kills. SHU's lead reached as high as nine, 23-14, following an 8-2 run. Luginbuhl sparked the surge with three straight aces. The Pios finished the frame with an ace from Tiana Brasby that sealed a 25-15 win. 

The second set started off closer than the first, with SHU leading by four, 12-8, through the opening 20 points. The Pioneers started to pull away with a 10-2 surge, building an 11-point lead, 22-11. Gracie DiNardo got in on the service success with back-to-back aces, while Luginbuhl racked up two kills and an ace. The Warriors rallied to draw the deficit to six, 24-18, but the Pios were too far ahead, taking a 25-18 victory. 

Up two sets to none, Sacred Heart stormed out to a 10-2 advantage in the third. Zovko recorded a pair of aces at the start of the set. Merrimack stayed in the match with a comeback attempt in the frame, getting as close as two, 21-19. Despite the Warriors' success in the middle of the set, the Pioneers clinched a sweep with a 4-0 run that sealed a 25-19 win. 

Up Next:
The Pioneers conclude the week at Quinnipiac tomorrow afternoon with a 1 p.m. match.