BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The Long Island University men's volleyball team (4-6, 0-0 NEC) defeated Merrimack College in three sets on Friday night, defeating the Warriors in the first of back-to-back matches against Merrimack. 

The opening set of Friday's match was a back-and-forth affair, as LIU and Merrimack found itself tied on 15 separate occasions. With the Warriors holding a 22-21 lead, LIU tied and recaptured the lead with kills by freshmen Ike Vernon and Kristóf Kövessy. With both teams tied at 24, LIU went up 1-0 in the match with back-to-back kills by Vernon and sophomore Owen Holowecky, defeating Merrimack 26-24. 

LIU jumped out to an early 11-6 lead over the Warriors in the second set, later going on a 9-1 scoring run to extend its lead to double digits. The Sharks went on to win the second frame 25-15, taking a 2-0 lead in the match on a service ace by Holowecky. 

Down 8-7 early in Friday's final set, LIU marched on a 9-1 scoring run to take a convincing 16-9 lead over the Warriors, eventually riding out to another 25-15 win in the third frame.  

Vernon led the Sharks with 13 kills, while senior Kale Spencer paced LIU with 11 digs. Kövessy and senior Drew McNellis tallied a team-high four total blocks. 

LIU hosts the Warriors again on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m.