GORHAM, Maine -- Juniors Angela Silveri (Poughquag, N.Y.) and Madeleine Nossiff (Portsmouth, N.H.) combined for 34 kills as the visiting Keene State College Owls defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 3-1, Tuesday evening in Little East Conference women's volleyball action at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.

            The win was the third straight for the Owls who improved to 17-15 overall and 5-1 in LEC play.  The Huskies fell to 15-13 overall after dropping their sixth straight match and remain winless in the conference.

            The two sides split the opening two sets, Keene taking the opener 25-18 before USM prevailed 25-22 in the second, to stand 1-1 heading into the pivotal third set.

            The Owls snapped an 18-18 tie with three straight points to gain the edge before Silveri capped off a 7-3 stretch for a 25-21 win.  In the final set, Nossiff dominated in the middle as the Owls jump out to an early 7-0 lead.  The Owls held off a comeback bid by the Huskies who closed to within two points on two occasions (11-9; 12-10) before taking a decisive 25-12 decision.

            Nossiff had 17 kills, a .316 attack percentage (17-5-38) and three block assists.  Silveri had 17 kills and a .238 attack percentage (17-7-42).  Rookie Rachel Lamica (Malone, N.Y.) added eight kills and junior Christine Hadfield (Waterford, Conn.) had seven as the taller Owls combined for 58 kills. Hadfield also served up three aces.

            Junior Alexis Michal (Windham, N.H./Central Catholic) and sophomore Brooke Bell (Melrose, Mass.) shared the setting duties for the Owls combining for 45 assists.  Rookie Katie Cunningham (Nelsonville, N.Y.) led the Owls with 15 digs.

            Rookie outside hitter Jessica Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) led the Huskies attack with 14 kills and two aces.  Classmate Monica Raymond (Sanbornton, N.H.) added nine kills, and junior Renee Trottier (Biddeford, Maine) had seven.  Junior Jessica Garrett (Las Vegas, Nev.) had five kills and three block assists.

            Sophomore setter Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) quarterbacked the Huskies offense passing out 33 assists.  Junior libero Demi Ruder (Grand Junction, Colo.) had a match-high 19 digs and three service aces.

            Southern Maine hits the road on Thursday (7:00 p.m.) to play Anna Maria College in a non-conference match.  Keene State will play its regular season home finale on Thursday (7:00 p.m.) hosting Worcester State University.

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