GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies volleyball team capped a non-conference home match with a come from behind 3-2 win (17-25, 25-20, 12-25, 25-20, 15-4) over the University of St. Joseph's (Conn.) Blue Jays after being down 2-1 at Hill Gym Saturday.

            Earlier in the day Southern Maine was defeated by the Salem State University Vikings in straight sets (25-20, 25-18, 25-18), and St. Joseph's (Conn.) topped Salem State in the day's second match 3-1 (26-24, 25-22, 24-26, 25-19).

            With the split, USM now stands at 6-11. St. Joseph's is now 4-12, and Salem State is 2-9.

            After they lost to the Blue Jays in the first set, the Huskies came out strong in the second set, and, thanks to solid play up front from freshman middle blocker Kelsey Abramson (Deerfield, Mass./Frontier Regional), and key kills by junior outside hitters Madalyn Terry (Kennebunkport, Maine/Kennebunk) and Annie Mitchell (Gorham), the Huskies kept their lead and won 25-20.

            St. Joseph's stormed back in the third set to win 25-12, but USM answered in the fourth set with a crucial 25-20 win to force the dramatic fifth set. USM took an 8-0 lead to start the fifth set with the help of three aces by Mitchell, and never looked back, winning 15-4.

            Abramson finished the match with 10 kills and four aces, Mitchell turned in seven kills and five aces, and Terry tallied seven kills of her own. Freshman setter Bridget Burns (Warrenville, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) distributed 24 assists.  

            St. Joseph's sophomore outside hitter Ciara Perez (Manchester, Conn.) led the Blue Jays with 12 kills, four digs, three aces, and two assists, and junior outside hitter Amanda Dondero (Mastic, N.Y./William Floyd) chipped in with eight kills, seven digs, and two aces. Sophomore setter Megan Williams (Lakeville, Conn./Housatonic Regional) finished with 26 assists, and junior middle hitter Rebecca DiPinto (Burlington, Conn./Lewis Mills) and freshman outside hitter Emily Vigue (Lebanon, Conn./Lyman Memorial) each tallied five assists.

            In the first match, six players had over two kills for Salem State, and junior outside hitter Jazmin Santos (Lawrence, Mass./Central Catholic) and senior libero Angelica Gonzalez (Lawrence, Mass./Greater Lawrence Technical) tallied 12 and 11 digs to push past the Huskies. Senior setter MacKenzie Carpenter (Peabody, Mass./Peabody Veterans Memorial) turned in 21 assists, and sophomore outside hitter Karya Bowen (Westfield, Mass.) had a team-high three aces.

            Mitchell led the way for USM with four kills, six digs, and two aces, and freshman libero Demi Ruder (Clifton, Colo./Central) tallied 13 digs.

            St. Joseph's fought to win the second match of the day with the help of an impressive 18 kills and 14 digs by Perez. Williams, Vigue, and freshman middle hitter Samantha Edwon (Beacon Falls, Conn./Woodland Regional) each contributed five kills apiece.

            Perez finished the day with 30 total kills.

            Santos led Salem State in the match with 13 kills and seven digs.     

Southern Maine returns to action when they host University of Maine Presque Isle in a non-conference match at Hill Gym on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.).  

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