GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies volleyball team dropped both of their games to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsairs and the Worcester State University Lancers in a home tri-match at Hill Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

            UMass Dartmouth (9-0) defeated USM 3-1 (25-6, 25-14, 18-25, 25-11) in the first match of the day, and downed Worcester State 4-1 (20-25, 25-21,19-25, 26-24, 15-11) in the second match. Worcester State finished the day by beating USM in straight sets 25-14, 25-11, 25-19. Worcester State is now 5-5, and after both losses USM is now 3-7.

            In the first match, senior setter Jessica Goncalves (New Bedford, Mass.) led UMass Dartmouth with 23 assists, six digs, and three aces and freshman outside hitter Linsey Boulay ((Swamsea, Mass./Case) added 18 digs of her own. Freshman outside hitter Eliza Bowes (West Yarmouth, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth) chipped in with eight digs.

            Junior outside hitter Annie Mitchell (Gorham, Maine) led the Huskies with five kills, two assists, two aces, and 12 digs. Sophomore setter Nicole Hansen (Biddeford, Maine) added 14 assists and 12 digs.

            In the second match freshman outside hitter Brianna Perry (New Bedford, Mass.) led UMass Dartmouth with 18 kills, and Goncalves provided 41 assists.

            Sophomore setter Amanda Lewis (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) tallied an impressive 56 assists for Worcester State.

            In the day's final match sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Jasper (Roickland, Mass.) led the way for the Lancers with nine kills, six digs, and four aces. Lewis chipped in with 15 assists, and freshman setter Gina Battista (West Springfield, Mass.) notched nine kills.          

            Junior outside hitter Madalyn Terry (Kennebunkport, Maine/Kennebunk) turned in six kills and six digs for the Huskies, and freshman libero Demi Ruder (Clifton, Colo./Central) added 13 digs.

            Southern Maine hosts Unity College on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) for a non-conference match. 

–jan–