BOCA RATON, Fla. – Stetson volleyball picked up its first win of the 2026 season Saturday, defeating Merrimack 3-1 at Abessinio Court inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
The Hatters hit .277 as a team and finished with a season-high 57 kills while also collecting 82 digs in the victory.
Stetson responded after Merrimack grabbed the first points of the opening set, using kills from Lelia Fitz and Andrea Diaz Dominguez to move in front. The Warriors briefly regained the advantage at 7-4, but the Hatters answered and began to take control midway through the frame.
Vanessa Shevchenko and Kayla Balfour helped spark the run at the net as Stetson built a 16-10 advantage. The Hatters maintained control from there before Maria Ozaeta closed out the set with a kill for a 25-18 victory.
Merrimack jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second set and held off a late Stetson push. The Hatters battled back behind kills from Diaz Dominguez and Fitz and pulled within two at 24-22 following a block by Balfour and Fitz. Merrimack ultimately held on for a 26-24 win to even the match.
Stetson answered in the third. Diaz Dominguez delivered a service ace and several key kills as the Hatters erased an early deficit and took command of the set. Sofia Torcello and Ozaeta also contributed at the net as Stetson pulled away for a 25-16 victory and a 2-1 match lead.
The Hatters again had to rally in the fourth after falling behind 6-1. Diaz Dominguez helped draw Stetson even at 8-8 with a service ace before back-to-back kills from Shevchenko helped the Hatters seize momentum.
Balfour later pushed the advantage to 23-19 with a kill, and after Merrimack narrowed the gap, Diaz Dominguez finished off the match with the final kill of a 25-22 set victory.
Diaz Dominguez led the way with 15 kills, 26 digs and three service aces. Fitz added 12 kills while hitting .458, and Balfour finished with 10 kills and six total blocks. Jannelize Perez contributed 16 digs on the defensive end.
"Overall, I thought it was a good weekend for us," head coach Yang Deng said. "We were able to test a lot of different players and give them opportunities to gain experience on the court. That experience, whether good or bad, is what we need right now."
Stetson returns to action Friday, Sept. 4, against Bethune-Cookman at 6 p.m. inside Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters
