GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies volleyball team earned a split Saturday with a 3-0 win over the Lyndon State College Hornets at Hill Gymnasium. USM lost the first match of the day 3-0 to the Western Connecticut State University Colonials.

            Western Connecticut defeated USM by scores of 25-14, 25-13, 25-11 and is now 9-5 on the season and 2-0 in Little East Conference play. USM downed Lyndon State by scores of 25-21, 25-15, 25-9 and improves its record to 5-9 and 0-3 in conference play. Western Connecticut topped Lyndon State by scores of 25-6, 25-9, and 25-5 in the day's second match. The Hornets drop to 2-9 on the season.   

            Freshman libero Demi Ruder (Clifton, Colo./Central) turned in a career-high nine aces, and junior outside hitter Madalyn Terry (Kennebunkport, Maine/Kennebunk) tallied eight aces of her own to pace the Huskies past Lyndon
State. Ruder and Terry also contributed three digs each, and senior middle blocker Krista Keene (Gorham, Maine) and freshman middle blocker Kelsey Abramson (Deerfield, Mass./Frontier Regional) each turned in six kills. Terry and junior outside hitter Annie Mitchell (Gorham, Maine) had four kills apiece, and freshman setter Bridget Burns (Warrenville, IL/ Wheaton Warrenville South) finished with 19 assists.

            Freshman setter Laura Drake (Hinsdale, Mass./Wahconah Regional) paced the Hornets with seven assists, two aces, four digs, and one block assist, and senior outside hitter Jessica Walsh (North Kingstown, RI) and junior outside hitter Morgan Diltz (Moultonboro, NH/Moultonboro Academy) each turned in three kills.

            In the first match Western Connecticut came out strong and benefitted from a 12-kill performance from senior outside hitter Paxton Thornton (Sharon, Conn./Housatonic Valley Regional), and an eight-kill performance from junior middle hitter Melanie Thornton ((Danbury, Conn.). Thornton also contributed six digs, and sophomore setter Jennifer Hogan (Franklin Square, N.Y./Holy Trinity) added 17 assists.

            Burns led Southern Maine with 12 assist, eight digs, and one ace, and Ruder added 16 digs of her own. Terry chipped in with five kills and four digs.

            Western's Thornton had eight kills and four digs in the win over Lyndon State. Hogan added 22 assists, and junior setter/defensive specialist Rachel Volpe (Southington, Conn.) and sophomore outside hitter Nina Wojtkiewicz (Griswold, Conn.) finished with four aces each.

            Drake and junior middle blocker Sarah Adams (Alton, N.H./Prospect Mountain) paced Lyndon State with three kills apiece.

Southern Maine returns to action when they host Husson on Tuesday for a non-conference match (6:00 p.m.) 

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