GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies volleyball team was defeated by the Husson University Eagles 3-2 (25-17, 25-19, 19-25, 14-25, 9-15) after leading 2-0, to conclude a non-conference tri-match that also included the University of New Brunswick St. John's Seawolves at Hill Gym Saturday afternoon.

            The Huskies lost the day's opening match to UNB-St. John's 3-1, and UNB-St. John's topped Husson 3-0 in the second match.

            Southern Maine now falls to 7-12 with the loss to Husson, and Husson improves to 11-6 with the win over Southern Maine. Southern Maine's and Husson's matches with UNB-St. John's are considered exhibitions. UNB-St. John's improves to 2-0.

            After losing 3-0 to Husson on September 25 at Hill Gym, the Huskies opened their second meeting against the Eagles by winning the first two sets. Husson clawed its way back with 14, 11, and 10 kills in the next three sets to take the match.

            Senior middle hitter Hannah Olstad (Farmington, N.H.) led the way for the Eagles with an impressive 24 kills and 12 digs. Junior outside hitter Kelsey Burrill (Somersworth, N.H.) added 12 kills and 11 digs, and senior outside hitter Michelle Smith (New Boston, N.H./Goffstown Area) chipped in the 11 kills, 21 digs, and four aces. Senior setter Aleta Johnson (Milton, N.H./Nute) distributed 39 assists.

            The Huskies were led by junior outside hitter Madalyn Terry (Kennebunkport, Maine/Kennebunk) who had 12 kills, and freshman libero Demi Ruder (Clifton, Colo./Central) who finished with a 2012 USM individual season-high 25 digs. Senior middle blocker Krista Keene (Gorham, Maine) and junior outside hitter Annie Mitchell (Gorham, Maine) each added nine kills, and Mitchell, Ruder, and sophomore defensive specialist Sarah McClain (Olmsted Falls, Ohio) had three aces apiece. Mitchell also turned in 17 digs.

            UNB-St. John's started its season by losing the opening set of the day's first match to the Huskies, but then won three straight sets to win the match.

            Outside hitter Veronique Bastarache led the Seawolves with 12 kills, 10 digs, and four aces. Outside hitter Sumire Maillet added nine kills and nine digs, and setter Sarah Meehan chipped in with 26 assists, seven digs, and four aces. Megan Fitzpatrick had 14 assists, and Jazmine Campbell contributed four aces as well.

            Freshman middle blocker Kelsey Abramson (Deerfield, Mass./Frontier Regional) led Southern Maine with 10 kills.

            In the day's second match, UNB-St. John's got off to quick starts in all three sets and never looked back, winning 3-0 over Husson.

            Katherine Houser paced the Seawolves with nine kills. Meehan and Fitzpatrick added 14 and 11 assists, Fitzpatrick had six aces, and Maillet chipped in with five aces of her own.

            Olstad led Husson with five kills, two aces, and four digs. 

                  Southern Maine returns to action when they travel to Plymouth State for a Little East Conference match on Tuesday (6:00 p.m.).

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