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GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine hung on to capture the 4th set and then won six of the last seven points in the 5th to come away with a 3-2 decision (10-25, 25-19, 14-25, 25-22, 15-13) against the University of New England women's volleyball team as the 2022 campaign started Friday evening (Sep. 2) at Hill Gymnasium.

The Nor'easters raced out to an early lead with a dominating opening frame, and regained the edge after taking the 3rd by 11. UNE two set victories were by a combined 26 points, while the Huskies' three were by just 11.

Brianna Delloiacono had 11 kills to pace the Huskies (1-1), and Meg Perry chipped in with nine kills along with a match-best seven service aces. Isabella Smith also put down nine winners, and Savannah Hunter registered 33 assists for the attack. Hunter and Perry each finished with double-double, collecting 19 and 16 digs, respectively. Sierra Castonguay also accounted for 19 digs.

USM led by seven (17-10) in the 4th, only to see that reduced to one at 19-18 before securing the stanza. UNE was up by as many as four (8-4) in the deciding set; however, Madison Zimmer lifted the hosts in front for the first time at 14-13, and then Smith closed things out.

For the Nor'easters (0-1), rookie Ellijah Hanley had a team-high 16 points, mostly from 10 kills and five aces. Viktoria Pavlyuk topped the kill column with 12, and Lauren Davenport added another 10.

Emma Chase went for 33 assists and 16 digs, and a match-high 24 digs came from Griffin Chaffin-Quiray. Kailyn Reilly factored in four of the squad's seven blocks, and Grace Mueller matched her with a couple of solo rejections.

UNE returns to the USM campus Saturday morning (10 a.m.) for two more matches against Spaulding University (Ky.) and Maine Maritime Academy.