NORTHAMPTON, MA. – The University of Southern Maine volleyball's team winning streak reached three games before it was halted in a tri-match split hosted by Smith College in Northampton, MA. The Huskies rolled through Framingham State University 3-1 earning their first win ever against the Rams before they were swept away 3-0 by the host Pioneers. The 1-1 afternoon sends the Huskies to 8-11 on the year while the Rams fell to 7-12 and the Pioneers moved to 15-6.LEC Nominations
 
When and Where: Saturday, October 9, 2021 – Smith College – Ainsworth Gymnasium
 
Game One Score: Huskies 3, Rams 1 (25-17, 25-15, 20-25, 25-22)
 
Game One History: This was the fifth meeting between the two programs. Framingham State leads the series 4-1.
 
Game One Standout Huskies: freshman outside hitter Alizia Lagando (Huron, OH): 15 kills, 15 digs, four assists, one ace, one block; sophomore outside hitter Brianna Delloiacono (Moodus, CT): 13 kills, 15 digs; freshman outside hitter Lydia Budroe (Windham, ME): 10 kills, .345 hitting%, seven digs, two aces; senior setter Sophie Lindsay (Sierra Madre, CA): 34 assists, 10 digs, nine kills, five aces. 
 
Game One Standout Ram: Brandee Thomas: 12 kills, 15 digs, one assist, one ace.
 
How It Happened, Game One: 
 
-With the set level at 9-9, the Huskies produced a 5-2 mini-run with four straight markers getting three errors and a Lagando kill to lead 14-11 as Framingham State used their first timeout of the set. USM's edge advanced to four, 20-16 when Lindsay set up Lagando on the left pin for the kill. A freshman right side Isabella Smith (Merrimack, NH) and Lindsay dual block combined with an attack error put the Huskies on the brink of a first set win, 22-16. The Huskies won the set 25-17 with a Lindsay ace ending with an 11-4 clinching spurt. 
 
-In the second set, Southern Maine started strong building an early 6-0 advantage using a Lagando kill and ace, two Lindsay kills and a Smith kill and solo stuff. They kept on piling points as they pushed ahead 12-3 via a Delloiacono ace. Framingham State closed the gap to 13-7 before three Lagando kills and a Lindsay ace gave USM their first double-digit lead, 17-7. Southern Maine eventually won the set 25-15 giving them a commanding 2-0 match lead.
 
-USM went ahead 6-1 at the beginning of the third set receiving two Lagando kills and a Smith and Lagando double-block. They doubled up the competition 12-6 when Budroe rallied a free ball over the net. After that, two Husky mistakes and a Ram kill dropped their deficit to three, 12-9 as Southern Maine took a timeout. The Rams took a two-point advantage late in the third set, 20-18 getting four straight points with three consecutive kills coming from the swing of Valerie Sullivan. Framingham State put home the final four points of the set to take it 25-20. 
 
-The Huskies held a slim 10-9 lead in the middle portion of the fourth set until they exploded for six in a row with Lindsay serving as the catalyst notching two aces and a kill to increase the advantage to 16-9. FSU eventually brought their margin down, but the Huskies built it back and were ahead 22-19 late getting Lagando's 15th kill of the match before capturing the set. 
 
Inside The Box Score, Game One: 
 
-Lagando recorded her eighth double-double of the season while Delloiacono put together her fourth and second straight. 
-Lindsay was one assist shy of her second triple-double of the campaign. Her five aces were a season-high and one-off from her single-game career mark. 
-Sophomore defensive specialist Sierra Castonguay (Nottingham, NH) had her ninth game with double-digit digs.
-Budroe set a new personal best with 10 kills and seven digs while compiling a single match-high .345 hitting%
 
 
Game Two Score: Pioneers 3, Huskies 0 (22-25, 21-25, 12-25)
 
Game Two History: This was the fourth meeting between the two programs. The series is tied 2-2.
 
Game Two Standout Husky: Sophie Lindsay: 11 assists, 11 digs, five kills, three total blocks.
 
Game Two Standout Pioneers: Abby Sweeney: game-high 11 kills, .360 hitting%; Fiona Hegarty: eight kills, .571 hitting%, two total blocks.
 
How It Happened, Game Two: 
 
-USM fell behind 7-2 in the early portion of the first set and they took a timeout hoping to cool the hosts' momentum. They were still behind 17-9 in the middle portion of the set and went on a 10-2 outburst keyed by Budroe who was serving during most of the run. Down six, 19-13 the Huskies put together five consecutive in the 10-2 binge using a Delloiacono kill and a Budroe ace to pull within one 19-18. Late in the set, the squads swapped service errors as four of the final six points came via serve/receive. Sweeney powered a kill for the 25-22 first set victory for Smith. 
 
-In the second set, the Huskies started quickly building a 6-0 lead using a Budroe kill and Lagando ace. Trailing 9-5, Smith rallied to take a 10-9 edge on the strength of five consecutive points and the Huskies responded by stopping play using their first of two timeouts. The teams traded points and a Lindsay and freshman middle hitter Madison Zimmer (Regina SK, Canada) block pushed USM ahead 16-15 briefly. Back-to-back Olivia Smith kills broke the tie and Smith moved in front 21-19. The Huskies came within one on the next serve, but Smith hung on to take a 2-0 match lead.
 
-Smith came out firing in the final set hitting .412 compared to the Huskies' .067 as the Pioneers jumped in front 5-0 fast. A Delloiacono kill moved Southern Maine down two, 7-5, however, Smith went on a set shaping 9-2 run to take a double-digit 17-7 lead a margin the Huskies could not close. 
 
Inside The Box Score, Game Two: 
 
-Smith nearly doubled up the Huskies in kills (43-to-22). 
-Lindsay led the match in digs with 11, it was her second straight and seventh match of the season in double figures.
-Both programs struggled to serve as USM had 10 service errors and Smith had nine.
-Smith had eight bad sets compared to USM's two.
 
Up Next: The Huskies are back in the friendly confines of the Hill Gymnasium for a four-game homestand starting this Wednesday, October 13th against Little East Conference opponent Plymouth State 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!