University of New Hampshire Athletics
Tuesday, September 16
Durham, N.H.
6 PM
University of New Hampshire
6-4,0-0America East
3
vs
0
Merrimack
2-7,0-0MAAC
1
2
3
F
Merrimack
18
20
20
0
New Hampshire
25
25
25
3
Rachel Grier collected 12 kills and hit at a .611 clip
Photo by: Alex Miller
Grier Powers 'Cats Past Merrimack in Straight Sets
9/16/2025 8:24:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Junior racked up 12 kills on .611 hitting percentage
DURHAM, N.H. — The University of New Hampshire volleyball team used a balanced offensive effort and aggressive serving to sweep Merrimack, 3-0, on Tuesday night at Lundholm Gym in the annual Vs. Cancer match. The set scores were 25-18, 25-20, 25-20.
Junior Rachel Grier (Dublin, Calif.) led UNH (6-4) with 12 kills on .611 hitting and added two blocks. Senior Meredith Hohnbaum (Indianapolis, Ind.) posted eight kills, five blocks and a career-high-tying four digs, while junior Evelyn Brenton (Glastonbury, Conn.) contributed a career-high five kills and a match-high and personal-best six block assists.
Junior Jessica Shattles (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) ran the offense with 32 assists and eight digs, and freshman Jannelize Perez (Orlando, Fla.) served up a career-high five aces and a personal-best six digs. Freshman Dylan Hunt (Pickerington, Ohio) recorded career highs of 10 digs and two aces, and senior Avery LePore (Franklin, Tenn.) anchored the back row with nine digs.
UNH (6-4) opened the match with a strong first set, led by Hohnbaum, who tallied four kills and teamed up with Grier for a pair of blocks. Perez sparked the Wildcats from the service line with back-to-back aces, helping the Wildcats build a 10-4 lead. Brenton and senior Millie Grove (Warrington, Pa.) added kills late to close out the set.
In the second frame, Hohnbaum continued her dominance at the net with four more kills and three block assists. Grier and Grove each contributed kills, while LePore added a service ace to extend UNH's lead. The Wildcats pulled away with a 5-1 run to end the set, capped by a block from Brenton and Hohnbaum.
The third set featured a serving clinic from UNH, with seven aces including two from Hunt and one each from Perez, junior Miray Su Keskin (Ankara, Turkey), and freshman Milan Curl (Chesapeake, Va.). Freshman Varvara Zvereva (Korolev, Russia) added two kills and a block assist, while Grier sealed the match with her 12th kill.
Merrimack (2-7) posted 36 kills as a team. Morgan Thurlow led the Warriors with six kills, four block assists, and four service aces, while Ella Maldonado anchored the defense with a match-high 13 digs.
UNH improved to 9-0 all-time versus MC.
•The Wildcat volleyball team is hosting a team fundraiser in partnership with Vs. Cancer on Tuesday. More children die of cancer than any other disease. And of those cancers, brain tumors are the deadliest. The 'Cats have teamed up with Vs. Cancer, a signature fundraising campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, to give these children a healthier and happier future. Fans can help by donating. Proceeds from your donation will fund child life programs at a local hospital and help find a cure for pediatric brain tumors. Fans can donate HERE.
NEXT UP • VS LOYOLA MARYMOUNT, TEXAS A&M INVITATIONAL, SEPT. 18
•The Wildcats continue their highly-competitive non-conference schedule when they head to Bryan-College Station, Texas, for the Texas A&M Invitational at Reed Arena on Sept. 18-20. UNH opens play with a match against Loyola Marymount on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m. ET.
WILDCATS FOR LIFE RETURNS SEPT. 29-OCT. 10
•UNH Athletics' annual fall fundraiser is just around the corner, supporting student-athletes across all programs. This year, your impact will go even further thanks to a $35,000 match! Stay tuned for how you can get involved and help fuel the success of our Wildcats. LEARN MORE.
Follow the UNH Volleyball Team
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unhvolleyball
X - https://x.com/unhvolleyball
UNH (6-4) over Merrimack (2-7): 25-18, 25-20, 25-20
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 • 6 p.m.
Lundholm Gym • Durham, N.H.
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 • 6 p.m.
Lundholm Gym • Durham, N.H.
Junior Rachel Grier (Dublin, Calif.) led UNH (6-4) with 12 kills on .611 hitting and added two blocks. Senior Meredith Hohnbaum (Indianapolis, Ind.) posted eight kills, five blocks and a career-high-tying four digs, while junior Evelyn Brenton (Glastonbury, Conn.) contributed a career-high five kills and a match-high and personal-best six block assists.
Junior Jessica Shattles (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) ran the offense with 32 assists and eight digs, and freshman Jannelize Perez (Orlando, Fla.) served up a career-high five aces and a personal-best six digs. Freshman Dylan Hunt (Pickerington, Ohio) recorded career highs of 10 digs and two aces, and senior Avery LePore (Franklin, Tenn.) anchored the back row with nine digs.
UNH (6-4) opened the match with a strong first set, led by Hohnbaum, who tallied four kills and teamed up with Grier for a pair of blocks. Perez sparked the Wildcats from the service line with back-to-back aces, helping the Wildcats build a 10-4 lead. Brenton and senior Millie Grove (Warrington, Pa.) added kills late to close out the set.
In the second frame, Hohnbaum continued her dominance at the net with four more kills and three block assists. Grier and Grove each contributed kills, while LePore added a service ace to extend UNH's lead. The Wildcats pulled away with a 5-1 run to end the set, capped by a block from Brenton and Hohnbaum.
The third set featured a serving clinic from UNH, with seven aces including two from Hunt and one each from Perez, junior Miray Su Keskin (Ankara, Turkey), and freshman Milan Curl (Chesapeake, Va.). Freshman Varvara Zvereva (Korolev, Russia) added two kills and a block assist, while Grier sealed the match with her 12th kill.
Merrimack (2-7) posted 36 kills as a team. Morgan Thurlow led the Warriors with six kills, four block assists, and four service aces, while Ella Maldonado anchored the defense with a match-high 13 digs.
UNH improved to 9-0 all-time versus MC.
•The Wildcat volleyball team is hosting a team fundraiser in partnership with Vs. Cancer on Tuesday. More children die of cancer than any other disease. And of those cancers, brain tumors are the deadliest. The 'Cats have teamed up with Vs. Cancer, a signature fundraising campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, to give these children a healthier and happier future. Fans can help by donating. Proceeds from your donation will fund child life programs at a local hospital and help find a cure for pediatric brain tumors. Fans can donate HERE.
NEXT UP • VS LOYOLA MARYMOUNT, TEXAS A&M INVITATIONAL, SEPT. 18
•The Wildcats continue their highly-competitive non-conference schedule when they head to Bryan-College Station, Texas, for the Texas A&M Invitational at Reed Arena on Sept. 18-20. UNH opens play with a match against Loyola Marymount on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 4 p.m. ET.
WILDCATS FOR LIFE RETURNS SEPT. 29-OCT. 10
•UNH Athletics' annual fall fundraiser is just around the corner, supporting student-athletes across all programs. This year, your impact will go even further thanks to a $35,000 match! Stay tuned for how you can get involved and help fuel the success of our Wildcats. LEARN MORE.
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unhvolleyball
X - https://x.com/unhvolleyball
Team Stats
Merri
UNH
Kills
36
38
Errors
17
12
Attempts
106
103
Hitting %
.179
.252
Points
42.0
58.0
Assists
35
34
Aces
4
11
Blocks
2
9
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Players Mentioned
MB/MH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH/DS
/ Women's VolleyballRS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballUNH Volleyball vs UMBC Highlights 10-12-25
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Saturday, October 04
UNH Volleyball vs Bryant Highlights 10-1-25
Thursday, October 02
UNH Volleyball vs Merrimack Highlights 9-16-25
Wednesday, September 17