GORHAM, ME – The University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team began their four-game home swing with a tough task facing unblemished, no. 13 regionally-ranked (New England Women's Volleyball Association) and Little East Conference foe Plymouth State University Wednesday evening. The Huskies battled hard keeping the match close and winning the third set before falling in four to the Panthers. 
 
When and Where: Wednesday, October 13, 2021 – University of Southern Maine – Warren G. Hill Gymnasium
 
Score: Panthers 3, Huskies 1 (20-25, 23-25, 25-23, 14-25)
 
The Records: Southern Maine: 8-12, 1-4 LEC; Plymouth State: 18-10, 6-0 LEC
 
History: This was the 29th meeting between the two programs. The Panthers are 29-0 in the series against the Huskies. 
 
Standout Husky: senior setter Sophie Lindsay (Sierra Madre, CA): 25 assists, 13 digs, seven kills, three total blocks, one ace, .385 hitting%
 
Standout Panther: Nora Ryan: game-high 14 kills, two digs, two blocks, two aces, one assist, .294 hitting%
 
How It Happened: 
 
-PSU staked out to a 4-0 edge until the Huskies dropped their early deficit to one when sophomore outside hitter Brianna Delloiacono (Moodus, Ct) blocked a Lindsey Sanderson attempt at the left pin. Following that, a 6-1 Panther run ensued and their advantage expanded to 10-4. The Huskies kept at it coming within two, 15-13 when freshman middle blocker Sarah Haggerty (Lisbon, ME) notched a kill and a service ace. USM answered three in a row by the guests with four consecutive of their own to make it a one-point set, 18-17. That would be the closest the Huskies would come as Plymouth State closed out the 25-20 first set win.
 
-USM earned the first point of the second set when Lindsay placed an ace. Following a Makayla Marucci error, the Panthers doubled up the Huskies 6-3 getting two attack errors, an ace, and an Emilee Flanagan kill. Southern Maine stayed within three points, but freshman middle hitter Madison Zimmer (Regina, SK, Canada) notched a free ball block and a Delloiacono ace put the Huskies down one, 15-14. On set point in the late stages of the second set, Southern Maine produced an attack error, a freshman outside hitter Alizia Lagando (Huron, OH) kill and another Delloiacono ace to be behind one, 24-23. A Husky attack miscue wrapped up the second set for the Panthers.
 
-The Huskies took a commanding 7-3 early lead due to six straight markers with half of them via Haggerty aces. A Lindsay and Zimmer dual block increased their advantage to seven, 12-5 until five straight by Plymouth made their margin 12-10. Southern Maine kept on answering PSU, but the away squad cut their deficit to one, 19-18. USM put up three straight to lead by four, 22-18, however, the Panthers deadlocked the score with four points of their own making it a 22-22 game. Two straight Lilli Stogner attack errors put USM on the brink of a third-set dub. Lindsay eventually iced the set with a skip set kill for the 25-23 Husky win. 
 
-With the important third set level at six all, the guests fired across six consecutive points to double up the Huskies 12-6 capped off by a Ryan ace. Their six in a row was part of a set shaping 12-2 outburst as the Panthers held a massive 10 point, 18-8 advantage before winning the match with a 25-14 fourth set victory.
 
 
Inside The Box Score: 
 
-Both teams hit their best in the fourth set, but Plymouth State had a match-high .438 hitting percentage while the Huskies had a team-best .333 hitting percentage.
-The third set defeat was only the 12th set the Panthers have lost this season as they have won 54 of their 66 (81.8%) sets. 
-Lagando double-doubled for the ninth time this season (team-high 12 kills, 11 digs).
-Lindsay hit over .300 for the 14th time this year, the senior setter ranks fifth in the LEC in hitting% (.343).
 
Up Next: The navy and gold remain home during homecoming weekend this Saturday, October 16 for a tri-match with Little East Conference opponent Rhode Island College at noon then they follow with a non-conference duel with the University of New England at 4:00 p.m.
 
Southern Maine Athletics has gone to fully digital game programs, please click this link to access the game programs to future Husky home events!