(With contributions from Western Connecticut Sports Information)

Huskies Conclude Season 16-14

            DANBURY, Conn. -- Senior Karissa Smith (Bristol, Conn.) had a team-high 15 kills to lead the third-seeded Western Connecticut State University Colonials t a 3-1 victory (25-18,17-25, 25-18, 25-22) over the visiting sixth-seeded University of Southern Maine Huskies in a quarterfinal round match in the 2016 Little East Conference Tournament Tuesday night at Feldman Arena.

            The victory was the Colonials' second in four days over the Huskies and advances them into a Thursday night semifinal round match at second-seeded Plymouth State University.  With their fifth straight win, the Colonials improved to 20-10 overall.  The Huskies, making their first appearance in the LEC tournament since 2013, finished the season 16-14.

            Senior Cady Cordes (Fallon, Nev.) and sophomore Kamari King (East Hartford, Conn.) complemented Smith at the net knocking down 13 kills apiece.  Senior Danielle Kaminsky (Southington, Conn.) quarterbacked the Colonials' offense dishing out 46 assists and had 12 digs.  Smith and Cordes finished with double-doubles as they had 18 and 19 digs respectively.

            USM junior outside hitter Jess Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) led all players with 16 kills, and picked up another double-double with her 14 digs.  Junior Robbi Termentozzi (Littleton, Colo./Central) added nine kills, and rookies Faolain Harrington (Auburn, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) and Alayna McNally (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) contributed seven kills apiece.  Senior Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) and sophomore Nicole Schmitz (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham) each recorded a double-double as they passed out 21 assists and had 11 digs.

            The Colonials took the opening set on the strength of their .325 hitting percentage (17-4-40).  The Huskies turned the tables in the second set forcing the Colonials into a negative hitting percentage (-.027, 7-8-37).  Western responded in the third set behind Cordes five kills to take a 2-1 lead.  The fourth set was back-and-forth before King closed the match with her 13th kill.

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