Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Southern Maine Falls to Western Conn. and Bates
GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team dropped two matches Saturday falling to Western Connecticut State University 3-0 in a Little East Conference match and Bates College 3-1 in a non-conference match at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.
In the middle match, Western Connecticut defeated Bates 3-0. The two wins extended Western Connecticut's winning streak to five and improved its record to 15-3 overall. With the split, Bates moves to 7-6 for the season. Southern Maine dipped to 10-6 overall.
Western Connecticut opened the afternoon's tri-match by overpowering Southern Maine 25-16, 25-16 and 25-8. Sophomore outside hitter Karissa Smith (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) had nine kills and 11 digs to lead the Colonials well-balanced attack. Classmate Jaqueline Kanuk (New Fairfield, Conn.) also had nine kills and nine digs, and senior middle hitter Heather Williams (Kingston, N.Y.) contributed eight kills and four block assists. Senior libero Nina Wojtkiewicz (Griswold, Conn.) dug up 16 balls. Setters Danielle Kaminsky (Southington, Conn.) and Jennifer Hogan (Franklin Square, N.Y.) combined for 31 assists.
Rookie outside hitters Jessica Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) and Monica Raymond (Sanbornton, N.H.) led the Huskies attack with seven kills apiece. Sophomore setter Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) passed out 15 assists, and junior libero Demi Ruder (Grand Junction, Colo.) had a team-high 14 digs.
In the Huskies' match with Bates, the Bobcats jumped out to a two-set lead with 26-24 and 25-14 wins. The Huskies came back to take the third set 25-21 before the Bobcats rallied late to prevail in the fourth set 25-23.
Williamson posted her eighth double-double of the season with a match-high 19 kills and 16 digs. Junior Renee Trottier (Biddeford, Maine) added six kills and had six digs. Nilson had 26 assists and 14 digs for her third double-double of the year. Ruder also had 12 digs.
Bates received a team-high 14 kills and eight assists from junior middle blocker Mary Dineen (Windsor, Conn.). Junior outside hitter Abby Leberman (Concord, N.H.) contributed 11 kills and had a .321 attack Percentage (11-2-28). Junior Chandler McGrath (Seal Beach, Calif.) had eight kills and five service aces. It was McGrath's powerful serve that had the Huskies on their heals early in the second set, and served out the fourth set.
In the middle match between Western Connecticut and Bates, the Colonials took the opening two sets 25-16 and 25-22. The Bobcats forced the third set into extra time before falling 27-25.
Kanuk led the Colonials with 14 kills and 11 digs for a double-double, and rookie middle hitter Brittany Steele (Massapequa, N.Y.) had 11 kills. Smith chipped in with nine kills and 11 digs. Kaminsky earned a double-double passing out 25 assists and digging up 10 balls. Wojtkiewicz had a team-high 14 digs.
Leberman and Dineen led the Bobcats with eight kills apiece. McGrath added seven kills and seven digs. Senior setter Tess Walther (Santa Monica, Calif.) had 16 assists and rookie setter Lisa Slivken (New York, N.Y.) chipped in 10 assists. Senior libero Nicole Cueli (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) shared match-high honors digging up 14 balls.
Southern Maine is back in action on Thursday (7:00 p.m.) beginning a stretch of 13 straight road matches at Gordon College. Western Connecticut hosts Connecticut College on Tuesday (6:00 p.m.), and Bates will entertain Husson University on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.).
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