Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Williamson Sets Career Record for Kills Against MHC
DANBURY, Conn. -- The University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team split a tri-match Saturday falling to host Western Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference match 3-1 (19-25, 15-25, 25-18, 20-25) before knocking off Mount Holyoke College 3-1 (17-25, 25-21, 33-31, 25-16) in a non-conference match at Feldman Arena.
The win over MHC snapped a five-match losing streak for the Huskies, and improved their overall record to 11-17 (1-4 in LEC). Western Connecticut came back in the final match to defeat Mount Holyoke 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-17). The Colonials have won four straight and now stand at 19-10 overall (4-2 in LEC). Mount Holyoke falls to 7-14 overall with the two losses.
USM sophomore outside hitter Jess Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) posted a double-double in each match and in the process became USM's all-time career leader for kills. Williamson had 25 kills and 17 digs in the match against Western Connecticut. Her 25 kills equaled the school single-match record (4-set match) set by Amanda Starkey on September 10, 2003, and her 60 attacks broke her own record set last fall.
Against Mount Holyoke, the 5-foot-7 outside hitter had 15 kills and 12 digs to record her 15th double-double of the season. Williamson closed out the match with her record-setting 893rd career kill to surpass the previous record of 892 set by Sarah Kittrick (1996-99).
Match One
Western Connecticut won the opening two sets to take the lead before USM captured the third forcing a fourth set. USM battled valiantly rallying to within one point on three occasions (last at 18-17) before Western was able to close out the match.
In addition to Williamson's double-double, rookie Nicole Schmitz (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham) had her second double-double of the season with 11 digs and 10 assists. Junior Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) dished out 30 assists, and senior libero Demi Ruder (Clifton, Colo./Grand Junction Central) had 19 digs.
Two Western Connecticut players - junior Karissa Smith (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) and sophomore Brittany Steele (Massapequa, N.Y./Holy Trinity) - posted double-doubles. Smith had 17 kills and 16 digs, and Steele added 13 kills and 12 digs. Junior Danielle Kaminsky (Southington, Conn.) was a dig shy of a double-double with 46 assists and nine digs. Junior Jacqueline Kanuk (New Fairfield, Conn.) swung for 15 kills, and classmate Cady Cordes (Fallon, Nev./Churchill County) had a team-high 18 digs.
Match Two
Against Mount Holyoke, the Huskies fell behind early in the first set before rallying to get back within two (16-14). However, Mount Holyoke regrouped following a timeout for a 9-3 run to take a 1-0 lead. USM used a 6-1 run in the second set to go up 18-11, then held off a Mount Holyoke comeback bid.
The critical third set was a marathon. USM had six set points chances before finally winning the set to take a 2-1 lead. The Huskies pulled away in the decisive fourth set. Williamson tied Kittrick's career kills record early in the set, and broke the record slamming home the winning point.
Schmitz had another strong match passing out 12 assists, swinging for eight kills and serving up three aces. Nilson added 24 assists and eight digs while Ruder had a team-high 17 digs.
Senior Emma Sweeting (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.) led Mount Holyoke with 12 kills and 12 digs. Rookie Jamesa Allen (Orlando, Fla./Lake Nona) contributed 10 kills and five total blocks, and classmate Sarah Caggiano (Leonardtown, Md.) had nine kills and 12 digs. Junior Natalie Lyon (Oakton, Va./Flint Hill School) posted a double-double passing out 39 assists and digging up 13 balls.
Up Next
Southern Maine heads into the final week of the regular season facing two critical Little East Conference matches. USM hosts Plymouth State University on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) and Rhode Island College on Saturday (1:00 p.m.). Western Connecticut is at home on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) hosting a non-conference match with Westfield State University. Mount Holyoke is on the road on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) facing NEWMAC rival Smith College.
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