GORHAM, Maine -- The undefeated University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team extended its season-opening win streak to seven on Sunday with a pair of 3-0 non-conference victories over the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Castleton State College at the Warren G. Hill Gymnasium.

            The Huskies 7-0 start to the season is the best in the history of the program.  The Huskies opened the tri-match with a convincing win over the Owls of UMPI by set scores of 25-9, 25-5 and 25-10.  The Huskies closed the day's activities beating the Spartans in three straight, 25-20, 25-19 and 25-16.

            In the middle match, Castleton (1-4) earned its first win of the season defeating UMPI (0-7) 3-0 by scores of 25-9, 25-9, 25-14.

            Against UMPI, rookie outside hitter Jessica Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) had an impressive match for the Huskies with 17 kills and a .682 hitting percentage (17-2-22).  Sophomore Karina Zellou (Marshfield, Maine/Machias) added eight kills, and sophomore Renee Trottier (Biddeford, Maine) contributed seven kills.  The Huskies combined for a team hitting percentage of .484 (37-6-64).  Sophomore setter Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) dished out 30 assists.

            For the Owls, sophomore Abby Jewett (Bar Harbor, Maine) had four kills.  Senior Shannon Brown (Calais, Maine) dug up seven balls.

            Sophomore Brittany Brayman (Hartford, N.Y.) led Castleton past UMPI with five kills, five service aces and a solo block for a team-high 11 points.  Brayman also dug up a team-high eight balls.  Junior Amanda Chambers (Lake George, N.Y.) also had five kills.  Sophomores Cassidy Tedeschi (Pascoag, R.I.) and Kelly Mills (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) each had four kills.  The Spartans had 15 aces in the match.

            Brown led the Owls attack with four kills and eight digs.  Senior libero Molly Lindsey (Winthrop, Maine) had 11 digs.  Jewett had two kills to go along with seven digs.

            The Spartans gave the Huskies a run for their money in the final match of the day battling for every point.  Williamson led the Huskies with 13 kills and 13 digs.  Nilson had 19 assists, nine digs and a match-high four service aces.  Trottier came up with six kills, and rookie outside hitter Monica Raymond (Sanbornton, N.H.) had five.

            Brayman, Tedeschi and senior Kaylee Pratt (Hampton, N.Y.) each had five kills for the Spartans.  Juniors Shelby Smyth (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Michaela Babineau (Fitchburg, Mass.) combined for 16 assists.  Chambers had 13 digs.

            Southern Maine is back on the court Tuesday evening (7:00 p.m.) hosting Husson University for a non-conference match.  Castleton is off until Saturday when its plays a tri-match at Green Mountain College.  UMPI will play matches next Saturday at Green Mountain against Castleton, SUNY Cobleskill and Green Mountain.

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