Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- First-years Jessica Williamson and Monica Raymond combined for 37 kills to pace the University of Southern Maine in a 3-1 victory over the University of New England on Saturday morning (Oct. 11) at the Harold Alfond Forum in non-conference women's volleyball action. Set scores were 26-24, 25-16, 23-25, and 25-21.

Williamson finished with 21 kills and 10 digs for the Huskies (15-7), and Raymond added 16 winners. Junior Renee Trottier chipped in with eight kills to go with 19 digs. Sophomore Megan Nilson tallied 41 assists with her 15 digs, while junior Demi Ruder and sophomore Marcia Garcia went for 20 and 12 digs, respectively.

The Nor'easters (6-12) were led by senior Leah Janelle with nine kills and a team-best 17 digs. Sophomore Grayson Szczepaniak and first-year Courtney Lambrese both recorded eight kills, and sophomore Erika Sawicki contributed six. First-year Brooke Gibbons posted 18 assists and nine digs, while sophomore Caitlynn Marcotte registered a double-double with 12 assists and 11 digs. Defensively, sophomore Nikki Mathewson and senior Rachel McGahie combined for 30 digs.

UNE built a 20-13 cushion in the opening frame, and was maintaining a four-point (23-19) edge until USM struck for five unanswered to go up by one. A Huskies service error evened things up, but an attack error by the hosts gave the advantage back to Southern Maine, and Nilson finished it off with an ace.

USM fell behind (7-2) at the start of the 2nd, but rallied with another 5-0 run. After a point each way, a 7-0 spurt sent the visitors on their way to a two-set lead.

Big Blue was ahead for most of the 3rd set and carried the momentum of winning the stanza into the 4th, where it established a 16-10 advantage. The Huskies responded with six straight points to tie the score, and then leading by one (22-21), Williamson helped close out the match with a pair of kills in the final three points.