GORHAM, ME. – With the doubleheader sweep Saturday, the University of Southern Maine volleyball program are winners in five of their last seven games after a 3-0 victory against Little East Conference opponent Rhode Island College and a 3-1 hard fought win over interstate opponent the University of New England. 
 
When and Where: Saturday, October 16, 2021 – University of Southern Maine – Warren G. Hill Gymnasium
 
Game One Score: Huskies 3, Anchorwomen 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-10)
 
Game One History: This was the 29th meeting between the two programs. RIC leads the series 21-8.
 
The Records: Southern Maine: 9-12, 2-4 LEC; Rhode Island College: 7-11, 2-5 LEC
 
Husky Highlight: 
 
 
 
Game One Standout Huskies: sophomore outside hitter Brianna Delloiacono (Moodus, CT): nine kills, .350 hitting%, seven digs, one block, one assist; senior setter Sophie Lindsay (Sierra Madre, CA): 20 assists, nine digs, five kills, .625 hitting%, two blocks, two aces.
 
Game One Standout Anchorwoman: Amelia Murphy: game-high 13 kills, eight digs, one block, one ace, one assist.
 
How It Happened, Game One: 
 
-Behind 10-8, the Huskies put together a 10-2 scoring stretch to take an 18-12 lead getting a couple of kills and aces by freshman standout Alizia Lagando (Huron, OH). A Rhiannon Hodovanec kill coupled with a Husky attack miscue pulled RIC within three 22-19. Southern Maine countered with the final three points to win the set 25-19.
 
-In the second set, the home squad came out of the break firing notching seven markers to their counterparts two with strong service as Lagando and freshman middle blocker Sarah Haggerty (Lisbon, ME) tallying two aces apiece. Still ahead by five, 12-7, the hosts put together five straight points to move ahead by 10, 17-7 thanks to a Lindsay skip set kill and ace. A 9-2 RIC spurt put them down three late, but the Huskies stayed the course for the 2-0 match lead.
 
-The final set was all USM as they dominated the competition late to separate themselves. At 9-8 RIC, the Huskies outscored them 17-1 including the final 13 points of the game as Haggerty clinched the match with a block of Cassandra Fairman in the middle of the net. 
 
Inside The Box Score, Game One: 
 
-Four Husky players (Delloiacono, Lagando, Kim Grant (Saco, ME), and Lindsay) all chipped in five or more kills. 
-USM outhit RIC .222-to-.071 in the match.
-Southern Maine had nine service aces with Rhode Island College only producing three. 
 
 
Game Two Score: Huskies 3, Nor'easters 1 (25-20, 27-25, 15-25, 26-24)
 
Game Two History: This was the 60th meeting between the two programs. The Nor'easters lead the series 38-22.
 
The Records: Southern Maine: 10-12; Univ. of New England: 8-12
 
Game Two Standout Huskies: Alizia Lagando: game-high 15 kills, career-high five aces, nine digs, five assists; Brianna Delloiacono: 14 kills, 15 digs, two total blocks; Sophie Lindsay: 35 assists, 16 digs, six kills, .545 hitting%.
 
Game Two Standout Nor'easter: Viktoria Pavlyuk: 15 kills, three digs. 
 
How It Happened, Game Two: 
 
-Down 10-8 in the first set, the Huskies used their first scoring stretch a 7-2 burst to push ahead 15-12 off a Delloiacono mash at the left pin. Four consecutive points by UNE gave them a 20-18 lead in the late portion of the first set. The Huskies would then close out their opponent with the final seven points getting two of Lagando's five aces and a kill with a Grant kill for the 1-0 match advantage.
 
-The second set was a back and forth affair that saw numerous lead changes and no squad holding an edge higher than three. With the Nor'easters on the brink of tying up the set, Lagando and Lindsay fed Delloiacono for back-to-back mashes as the Huskies led 25-24. The guests then gained a point back on an attack error to level the margin at 25-25. The Huskies got a service error and a Delloiacono kill to take the commanding 2-0 advantage. 
 
-The Nor'easters doubled up the Huskies 8-4 early in the third set. They then pushed ahead 14-6 on the strength of a Mary Haley kill. They kept on tacking markers to lead 20-10 midway through action. The Huskies were behind by six, however, UNE capped off the set with the final four points.
 
-The Fourth set also needed extra serves to decide the winner. With the set deadlocked at 20-20, USM followed a Pavlyuk kill with three points of their own to push in front 23-21. UNE took a timeout and responded with another Pavlyuk kill, an attack error, and a Kassidy Krejmas solo stuff to lead by one, 24-23. Southern Maine then produced a clutch service error then Haggerty perfectly placed an ace and on the ensuing serve, Delloiacono completed the 3-1 dub with a kill.
 
Inside The Box Score, Game Two: 
 
-This was the second meeting between the two programs in 2021. The Huskies avenged a 3-0 loss way back on September 3rd.
-In their last five wins, the Huskies are outscoring opponents 15 sets-to-2.
-Delloiacono recorded a double-double for the fifth time this year.
-Haggerty matched a personal high with four aces that she reached twice this year (at Husson, 9/21; vs. Plymouth State, 10/13).
 
Up Next: The Huskies will wrap up their four-game homestand this coming Thursday, October 21st with a non-conference home match against Husson University at 7:00 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!