CASTINE, Maine – The University of Southern Maine volleyball team dropped both matches in its season opening tri-match, losing 3-1 to Maine Maritime Academy and 3-0 to St. Joseph's (Maine) at Maine Maritime Academy Saturday.

After dropping the first set to Maine Maritime 25-20, the Huskies' took the second set 25-22 on nine team kills. The Mariners would come back and win two straight sets 25-18, 25-9. Junior outside hitter Melissa Lail (Elizabeth, Colo.) led the way for Maine Maritime Academy with 14 kills and seven digs. Senior setter Jennifer Dixon (Woodstock, Md./Mariotts Ridge) added 23 of the team's 24 assists.     

USM junior outside hitter Madalyn Terry (Kennebunkport, Maine/Kennebunk) and freshman middle blocker Kelsey Abramson (Deerfield, Mass./Frontier Regional) each tallied eight kills, and Terry included three aces, and 12 digs. Freshman defensive specialist Bridget Burns (Warrenville, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) added 17 assists and freshman libero Demi Ruder (Clifton, Colo./Central) chipped in with 13 digs.

            St. Joseph's swept USM in the second match in straight sets 25-14, 25-17, 25-16. Senior middle blocker Sarah Hawkes (Pownal, Maine/Freeport) led the Monks with 10 kills, six aces, seven digs, and just one error. Senior setter Kiah Begley (Berwick, Maine/St. Thomas Aquinas) had a team-high 13 digs, and freshman right side hitter Alli Hollander (Thermal, Calif./La Quinta) added a team-high 13 digs.

            Southern Maine was led by Terry who had seven kills and nine digs. Burns chipped in with 16 assists, and Ruder added a team-high 23 digs.

            Terry finished the day with 15 kills and 21 digs. Ruder finished with seven aces and 36 digs, and Burns tallied an impressive 33 assists for the Huskies.

            Southern Maine travels to Daniel Webster on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) for a non-conference match. 

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