Huskies Host Colby-Sawyer College on Wednesday

            BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team snapped out of its October skid with a pair of non-conference victories Saturday defeating Westfield State University and Bridgewater State University in a tri-match at BSU's Tinsley Center.

            The Huskies snapped their five-match losing skid with their 3-0 win (25-18, 25-15, 25-12) over Westfield State, then returned to court to defeat Bridgewater State by a 3-0 count (25-22, 25-18, 25-21).  The two non-conference wins improved the Huskies' overall record to 13-9.  Westfield State earned a split by defeating Bridgewater State 3-0 in the opening match, and is now 11-13.  Bridgewater State falls to 7-14 overall.

            Against Westfield State, junior Jess Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) and rookie Megan Gettings (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) led the USM offense with eight kills apiece.  Junior Robbi Termentozzi (Littleton, Colo./Central) added six kills.  Senior Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) quarterbacked the Huskies passing out 17 assists.

            Rookie Natasha Belardo (Springfield, Mass./Holyoke) led the Owls with five kills, and sophomore Brianna Starkey (Rockland, Mass.) contributed four kills.  Sophomore Lizzie Taylor (Medfield, Mass.) had a match-high 11 digs.

            In the final match of the day against the Bears, Williamson and Gettings combined for 29 kills.  Williamson had a match-high 18 kills on 31 attacks, while Gettings had 11 kills on 21 attacks.  NIlson passed out 21 assists while sophomore Nicole Schmitz (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham) had 18 assists.

            Sophomore Erin Clifford (Hanson, Mass./Whitman-Hanson Regional) had 10 kills and three service aces to lead the Bears.  Sophomore setter Charleyne Panner (Gilford, N.H.) had six kills and passed out 25 assists.

            Southern Maine returns home on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) to host Colby-Sawyer College for a non-conference match at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.  Westfield State will host Western Connecticut State University for a non-conference match on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.).  Bridgewater State's next match will be on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) when it travels to Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

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