Southern Maine Falls to Endicott and Brandeis

            WALTHAM, Mass. -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies women's volleyball team opened its 2015 season Saturday by dropping matches to Endicott College and Brandeis University at the Brandeis Invitational.  The matches were the first of the season for the Huskies.

            The Huskies first match of the season against Endicott was a rematch of last year's ECAC tournament first-round match.  Endicott prevailed again defeating USM 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-22).  In their second match against host Brandeis, the Huskies took the first set before the Judges ran off three straight wins to take the match 3-1 (20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-15).

            Against Endicott, sophomore Jess Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) had eight kills and 13 digs. Classmate Mo Raymond (Sanbornton, N.H.) and sophomore transfer Robbi Termentozzi (Grand Junction, Colo.) each had five kills.  Senior libero Demi Ruder (Grand Junction, Colo.) also had 13 digs to match Williamson for team-high honors.  Junior setter Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) had 13 assists.

            In their second match, the Huskies came out strong against the Judges to take the first set.  After the Judges won the second set to even the score, the home side used a 12-3 run to overcome an 18-13 deficit to take the critical third set.  The Judges finished strong in the fourth set outscoring the Huskies 13-4 down the stretch to take the win.

            Williamson had eight kills and 15 digs to lead the Huskies.  Raymond contributed six kills.  Nilson had a match-high 17 digs and passed out 12 assists.  Rookie Nicole Schmitz (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham) matched Nilson with 12 assists.

            Nilson was named to the all-tournament team along with sophomore Rachel Lamica of Keene State College, freshman Yvette Cho of Brandeis, sophomore Lauren Sheehan of Endicott, senior Kellen Tensen of Johnson & Wales University and junior Brooke Fieldman of Wellesley College.

            Southern Maine is back in action tomorrow morning (11:00 a.m.) hosting a tri-match at the Warren Hill Gymnasium with the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Castleton University.

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