Statistics

BANGOR, Maine -- The University of New England notched seven of the last 10 points to pull out a 3-2 women's volleyball triumph (25-15, 20-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-13) over Husson University at Newman Gymnasium on Thursday evening (Sep. 22).

In a deciding frame that was never separated by more than two, the Nor'easters trailed at 7-5 and 10-8. A Kailyn Reilly kill and Morgan Lynch ace, around a Husson error, flipped the lead momentarily (UNE 11-10), but a kill from Julia Leavitt and a block by Alexa Beal reversed it again, and a Griffin Chaffin-Quiray dig-turned-kill was offset by another winner from Leavitt as the Eagles went ahead at 13-12. However, a service error tied things and put the ball back in the hands of UNE, and an ace by Emma Chase set the visitors one point away. The ensuing rally came to a conclusion on the second swing from Lauren Davenport, squeezing the ball down through the opposing block.

Both victories for the Nor'easters (2-8) this season have come in five-set matches. UNE has already gone the distance on five occasions in 2022, while it only occurred three times all of last year.

Ellijah Hanley racked up a season-best 18 kills to pace UNE, doing so behind a 0.471 hitting percentage. Davenport supported with a double-double of 13 kills and 11 digs, and tossed in five aces, as well. Viktoria Pavlyuk chipped in with six winners for the attack that was guided by the 33 combined assists out of Chase and Addie Miller (18 and 15).

For Husson (2-7), Leavitt amassed 30 kills on 57 tries, with the assistance of 50 helpers from Alyvia McIntyre. Cheyenne Young added 12 kills and a match-high 16 digs.

The Nor'easters took advantage of several errors by the Eagles to close the 1st set on an 11-3 run. Husson led the entirety of the 2nd and pulled away from a 19-18 frame to even things up, in spite of the visitors hitting .476 in the session.

The Eagles were in front, 21-18, in the 3rd until a kill by Davenport, who then went back to serve. Three Husson errors prior to a couple aces shifted UNE ahead (24-21), and Hanley thumped one moments later to seal the set. A fast UNE start in the 4th turned for the hosts near the middle, and six of the last seven points extended the battle into the 5th. The Eagles hit .538 in the penultimate period, without any attack errors, to stay alive.

UNE returns home to entertain Roger Williams University on Saturday (1 p.m.) in a Commonwealth Coast Conference contest.