GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Volleyball program has been ranked sixth in the 2021 Little East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll the league offices announced Monday afternoon following a collection of votes from head coaches.
 
The Huskies earned 27 points in the entire conference for the sixth slot. Eastern Connecticut State University edged the University of Massachusetts - Boston by two for the top spot (59 points). UMass-Boston, who's won nine conference championships over the past 11 years tied with ECSU in first place votes (three) and earned 57 points for second. Keene State University (46 points, one first place vote) rounded out the top three while Plymouth State University and Western Connecticut State University tallied one first place vote each.
 
This past spring, the Huskies competed in three matches and were a perfect 3-0 and were victorious in straight sets in all three battles. During their last full season in 2019, USM completed the year at 16-17 overall, 4-4 LEC and their season ended in the Little East Tournament First Round with a 3-0 defeat on the road to Plymouth State.
 
The Huskies return two upperclassmen including setter/opposite Sophie Lindsay (Sierra Madre, Calif.). During the three matches in the spring of 2021, Lindsay produced 72 assists, 22 digs, 17 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. The athletic training major during her 2019 campaign played in all 33 matches amassing 178 kills, 662 assists, 289 digs and 45 total blocks. She ranked seventh in the LEC in assists per set (5.56) and 17th in aces per set (0.43).