Southern Maine Sweeps Maine Maritime and St. Joseph's

            GORHAM, Maine -- Rookie outside hitter Jessica Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) had 32 kills as the University of Southern Maine opened the 2014 season by sweeping Maine Maritime Academy and Saint Joseph's College (Me.) in non-conference volleyball action Saturday afternoon at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.

            The Huskies won the opening match against Maine Maritime 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-19), then returned later in the day to defeat Saint Joseph's 3-0 (25-22; 25-20, 25-13).  St. Joseph's managed a split on the day by beating Maine Maritime 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 25-22, 25-20) in the middle match.

            USM's win over Saint Joseph's was its first against the Monks since 2006 and snapped a 10-game losing streak at the hands of the Monks.

            Williamson had 14 kills with a .286 hitting percentage and eight digs against Maine Maritime.  Against Saint Joseph's, the 5-foot-7 outside hitter swung for 18 kills and a .324 hitting percentage and seven digs.

            Sophomore co-captain Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) quarterbacked the Huskies' offense with 49 assists in the two matches.  Nilson also had seven kills and nine digs.  Junior co-captain Demi Ruder (Grand Junction, Colo.) had 27 digs, and sophomore Mariah Garcia (Brighton, Colo.) chipped in seven service aces, including five in the match with Saint Joseph's.

            Junior middle hitter Jessica Garrett (Las Vegas, Nev.) had a strong day on the front line with nine kills, eight digs and seven total blocks.

            Junior Felicia Wachowiak (Milton, N.H./Nute) led Saint Joseph's with 21 kills in the two matches.  Junior setter Alli Hollander (Thermal, Calif./La Quinta) dished out 46 assists, including 27 in the Monks win over MMA. Junior libero Abbie McPhee (Epping, N.H.) had 44 digs.

            For Maine Maritime, sophomore outside hitter Gillian O'Neal (Burbank, Calif./Village Christian) had an impressive afternoon with 33 kills, 22 digs and eight service aces.  Senior setter Betsy Trenckmann (La Veta, Colo.) had 59 assists, and junior libero Jess Menges (Old Forge, N.Y./Town of Webb) dug up 46 balls.

            Southern Maine hits the road on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) to play at Daniel Webster College.  Saint Joseph's will host the SJC Autumn Invitational next Friday and Saturday while Maine Maritime plays in a tri-match at Colby College next Saturday. 

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