Southern Maine Splits; Downs UNE, Falls to Maine Maritime

            BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team split a pair of non-conference matches Saturday defeating host University of New England 3-1 (26-24, 25-16, 23-25, 25-21) in the opening match then dropped a 3-1 decision (25-8, 21-25, 26-28, 20-25) to Maine Maritime Academy at the Harold Alfond Forum.

            The split gives the Huskies an overall mark of 15-8.  The win over UNE was the Huskies first since 2004 and snapped a string of nine straight losses to the Nor'easters.  UNE came back in the final match of the day to defeat Maine Maritime 3-0 (25-11, 25-22, 25-16).

            Freshmen Jessica Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) and Monica Raymond (Sanbornton, N.H.) combined for 37 kills against UNE.  Williamson picked up her 12th double-double of the season knocking down 21 kills and digging up 10 balls.  Raymond had a season-high 16 kills and a .359 hitting percentage (16-2-37).

            Junior Renee Trottier (Biddeford, Maine) had a strong all-around game with eight kills, two aces and 19 digs.  Sophomore setter Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) had 41 assists, three aces and 15 digs for her fifth double-double of the campaign. Junior libero Demi Ruder (Grand Junction, Colo./Central) had a match-high 20 digs.

            Senior Leah Janelle (Madbury, N.H./Oyster River) led the Nor'easters with nine kills and 17 digs.  Sophomore Grayson Szczepaniak (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Joseph Academy) and rookie Courtney Lambrese (Cranston, R.I./Cranston West) had eight kills apiece.  Sophomore Caitlynn Marcotte (Plaistow, N.H./Timberlane) had double-double with 12 assists and 11 digs, and rookie Brooke Gibbons (Miami, Fla./Brookline [Mass.]) just missed a double-double with 18 assists and nine digs.  Sophomore Nikki Mathewson (Merrimack, N.H.) had 16 digs.

            Against MMA, the Huskies dominated the opening set, 25-8, to go up 1-0.  The Mariners then came back to win the next three sets to take the match and avenge an early-season loss at the hands of the Huskies.

            Williamson had another double-double with 15 kills and 14 digs.  The rookie outside hitter made a school record 59 attack attempts during the four-set match.  Raymond had 12 kills, and Trottier picked up her second double-double of the season with 10 kills and a team-high 16 digs.  Nilson contributed 35 assists, five kills and four aces.

            Sophomore outside hitter Gillian O'Neal (Burbank, Calif./Village Christian) had a big match for Maine Maritime knocking down a match-high 25 kills and earning 19 digs.  Senior Sydney Robertson (Barnstead, N.H./Prospect Mountain) had 12 kills.  Senior setter Betsy Trenckmann (La Veta, Colo.) had 43 assists, and junior Samantha Ryan (Los Angeles, Calif./Beverly Hills) dug up a match-high 25 balls.

            Southern Maine returns to the hardwood on Wednesday (6:00 p.m.) for a Little East Conference match at Plymouth State University.  UNE hosts Curry College for a Commonwealth Coast Conference match on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.).  Maine Maritime will play a doubleheader on Tuesday (5:00 pm.) against the University of Maine Fort Kent. 

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