(With contributions from Endicott College Sports Information)

            BEVERLY, Mass. -- The University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team's first-ever trip to postseason play was not what they hoped for as the fifth-seeded Huskies lost in straight sets, 3-0, to the fourth-seeded Endicott College Gulls Wednesday evening in a first round match of the 2014 ECAC Division III New England Tournament.

            The Huskies had their three-match winning streak snapped and finished the season 18-14 overall.  The Gulls improved to 17-16 overall and advance to a semifinal match against top-seeded Western New England University.  WNEU received a first-round bye and will host the two semifinal matches, and the championship match, on Saturday.

            In the first-ever match between the two schools, Endicott took the three sets by scores of 25-12, 25-20 and 25-16.  The Gulls raced out to an early lead in the first set as sophomore libero Erika Trudon (Coventry, Conn.) served five aces, and rookie outside hitter Elise Morgan (Holbrook, Mass.) had five kills, including the decisive point.

            In the second set, the Gulls again jumped out to a big early lead (14-3), helped by a nine-point run, before the Huskies staged a rally to get within six (20-14), and later four (24-20), but to no avail.  The Gulls had their best attacking statistics in the final set converting for a .256 percentage (13-3-39) to take the decision.

            Little East Conference Rookie of the Year Jessica Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) led the Huskies with 12 kills.  Sophomore setter Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) had her ninth double-double of the season passing out 17 assists and digging up 10 balls.  Juniors Demi Ruder (Grand Junction, Colo.) and Bridget Burns (Warrenville, Ill.) had 11 digs apiece.

            Morgan led the Gulls' balanced attack with 10 kills and a .318 hitting percentage (10-3-22).  Sophomore Hayley Knapp (Valencia, Calif.) added seven kills, and classmate Tori McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.) chipped in five.  Trudon finished her night's work with six aces and a match-high 14 digs.  Junior setter Alleigh VandeMerkt (Riverside, Ill.) had 24 assists and seven digs.

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