LEWISTON, ME – The University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team traveled away from campus for the final time this season and showed resilience after falling behind 13-0 in the fourth set and 12-10 in the fifth to earn the thrilling 3-2 victory against non-conference opponent and New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) school Bates College Wednesday evening. It was just the sixth time since 1968 that the Huskies have defeated the Bobcats with their last win coming on October 5, 1985.
 
When and Where: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 – Bates College – Alumni Gymnasium
 
Score: Huskies 3, Bobcats 2 (27-25, 25-23, 13-25, 10-25, 15-12)
 
The Records: Southern Maine: 12-14; Bates: 7-14
 
History: This was the 72nd meeting between the two programs. The Bobcats are 66-6 against the Huskies in the series. 
 
How It Happened: 
 
-With the match even at 4-4, the Huskies put together three straight when senior right side Kim Grant (Saco, ME) dropped in a kill from the right side near the back line of the court to lead 7-4. The three consecutive points were part of an 8-1 spurt getting three aces in a row via the serve of sophomore defensive specialist Tori McMahon (Wappingers Falls, NY) as Bates took their first timeout of the set trailing 12-5. A Huskies attack error pushed Bates down three, 15-12. The Huskies rebuilt a six-point advantage 20-14 when freshman middle hitter Madison Zimmer (Regina, SK, Canada) stuffed Alyssa Lowther at the middle of the net. The Bobcats stopped the Huskies' momentum by pulling out nine straight points to regain the lead at 23-20. Facing three set points down 24-21, an attack error and two freshman outside hitter Alizia Lagando (Huron, OH) mashes with another Bates attack error put the Huskies in front 25-24. A USM attack error leveled the match, but USM closed it out for a 27-25 set W. 
 
-The second set was tied 7-7 until Bates strung together three in a row to push ahead 10-7. Still trailing by three, the navy and gold scored five straight with the key points being back-to-back aces by senior setter Sophie Lindsay (Sierra Madre, CA) as the Huskies led 15-13. Two Lagando aces increased the Husky margin to three, 18-15, however, the Bobcats deadlocked the set at 19 all with a Lowther kill. USM connected on the next four markers including a sophomore outside hitter Brianna Delloiacono (Moodus, CT) kill right down the left line while a Lindsay and Zimmer dual block moved the lead to 23-19. Lindsay and Zimmer iced the set on the right pin skying high for the block for the 25-23 Husky win.
 
-Like the second set, the third set was a back-and-forth affair early, but a 7-2 Bates stretch gave them their biggest edge of the match at 14-9 leading to the Huskies taking a timeout. Following the stoppage, Bates upped their advantage to 17-11, a six-point advantage. Over the remainder of the set, the Bobcats outproduced the Huskies 8-2 with Sydney Phillips chipping in four kills during their run.
 
-In the important fourth set, Bates came out of the break smoking hot building a 13-0 margin with 11 of those points coming from kills. Lagando ended the Bobcat stretch with a kill giving the Huskies their first point. Bates never really was threatened and forced a fifth and deciding set.
 
-Lagando started the fifth set with a kill and stuff on the left pin for a 2-0 Huskies lead. Another Lagando kill with an attack error and a bad Bobcat set upped the Husky edge to 5-1. Cayla Deacon went too long with a kill attempt to keep USM in front 7-4. After the attack error, Bates notched five straight to gain a two-point, 9-7 lead. Delloiacono and Lagando each converted kills at the left pin to even the set at 9-9. On the ensuing serve, Lindsay skip-stetted the ball to the back left corner to move the Huskies ahead 10-9. Bates then dumped home three in a row to lead 12-10, but USM took a one-point lead 13-12 with three straight of their own. Bates took a timeout then the Huskies won the five-set thriller connecting on the final two points of the match.
 
Up Next: The Huskies wrap up their season on Saturday with a tri-match at home taking on Little East Conference opponent Western Connecticut State University at noon before ending their season at 4:00 p.m. with non-conference foe Curry College. If you are planning on attending the game please be sure to read over the USM Athletics Spectator Policy. 
 
Southern Maine Athletics has gone to fully digital game programs, please click this link to access the game programs to future Husky home events!