(With contributions from UMass Boston Sports Information)

Huskies Travel to Rivier College on Thursday

            BOSTON -- The University of Massachusetts Boston women's volleyball team clinched its eighth consecutive Little East Conference regular-season title and the top seed in the upcoming championship tournament by defeating visiting University of Southern Maine, 3-0 (25-11, 25-21, 21-15) on Senior Night at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium Tuesday evening.

            The win was the 10th straight for the host Beacons who closed their LEC schedule with a perfect 7-0 mark.  The Beacons improved to 23-3 overall.  The Huskies dropped to 15-11 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

            After honoring their four senior members prior to the start of the match, the Beacons made quick work of the Huskies in the first set with a 25-11 win.  In the second set, the Beacons struggled to put away the Huskies, but still managed to record a 25-21 win.  In the third set, UMB jumped out to an early lead (14-5) and never looked back, despite a late push by the Huskies, as they earned a 25-15 victory.

            UMass Boston dominated at the net combining for a .405 hitting percentage (39-7-79).  Senior Julia Murphy (Canton, Mass.) had eight kills on a .571 hitting percentage, sophomore Eileen Shi (San Francisco, Calif.) had a team-high nine kills, and senior Colleen Koen (Centerville, Mass.) had eight kills on a .400 hitting percentage.

            Senior Pepper Baker (Tallahassee, Fla.) quarterbacked the Beacons' offense dishing out 16 assists and had three service aces.  Senior Elizabeth Glavan (Edina, Minn.) had four aces and 13 digs.

            For the Huskies, junior outside hitter Jess Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) had a match-high 10 kills and eight digs.  Senior Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) dished out 11 assists, and rookie libero Jenna Graves (Corinth, Texas/Lake Dallas) match Williamson with eight digs.

            Southern Maine hits the road on Thursday (7:00 p.m.) traveling to Rivier College for a non-conference match.  The Beacons will travel to San Antonio, Texas, on Friday for the two-day Trinity University National Invitational. 

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