(With contributions from Colby-Sawyer Sports Information)

Colby-Sawyer Downs Southern Maine 3-0

            NEW LONDON, N.H. -- Senior Kelsey McCulley (Southampton, N.Y.) and junior Gabrielle Rodriguez (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) posted a double-doubles Wednesday night as the Colby-Sawyer College Chargers defeated the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 28-26) in a non-conference women's volleyball match Wednesday night.

            The victory was the third straight for the Chargers, and improved their overall record to 7-22.  The Huskies dropped their fourth straight match to fall to 10-16 overall.

            McCulley had 13 kills and 12 digs while Rodriguez posted 14 kills and 10 digs to lead the Chargers.  Senior Kelsey Sullivan (Laconia, N.H.) added nine kills and 10 digs, and senior Laura Smolinski (Hebron, Conn.) passed out 27 assists and dug up nine balls.

            Sophomore Jess Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) led the Huskies with 17 kills, including 10 in the final set, and 11 digs for her 13th double-double of the season.  Junior Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) and freshman Nicole Schmitz (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham) combined for 23 assists, and senior libero Demi Ruder (Clifton, Colo./Grand Junction) had 10digs.

            The first set featured five ties and four lead changes. With the set tied at 9-9, Colby-Sawyer went on a 7-2 run capped by a McCulley kill to take a 16-11 lead. The Huskies could not close the gap to more than four points for the rest of the set. Colby-Sawyer came away with the 25-17 victory on a kill from Sullivan.

            The second set was tied at 11-11 when the home team used a 10-3 run to take a comfortable 21-14 lead. The Chargers went on to win the set 25-17 after a service ace from sophomore Lexi Strong (Somersworth, N.H.).

            Southern Maine raced out to a 9-2 advantage in the third set behind four kills from Williamson. Colby-Sawyer did not go away as they clawed all the way back to tie the score at 14-14 on a kill from Rodriguez. The frame was tied 26-26 when the Chargers benefited from a Huskies error and won the set 28-26, and the match, off a kill from sophomore Alli Lahiff (Haverhill, Mass.).

            Southern Maine travels to Danbury, Conn., for a tri-match on Saturday with Little East Conference rival Western Connecticut State University and non-conference foe Mt. Holyoke College.  Colby-Sawyer will conclude North Atlantic Conference play on Saturday at Green Mountain College along with Castleton University.

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