BOSTON, MA - The University of Southern Maine volleyball team hit the court and suffered a 3-0 defeat to Little East Conference opponent the University of Massachusetts – Boston Wednesday evening. With the loss, the Huskies skid to 5-9 and 1-2 LEC while the Beacons improve to 6-7 and 1-2 LEC.
 
When and Where: Wednesday, September 29, 2021 – University of Massachusetts – Boston – Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium
 
Score: Beacons 3, Huskies 0 (20-25, 13-25, 22-25)
 
History: This was the 32nd meeting between the two programs. The Huskies are 12-20 against the Beacons in the series.
 
Standout Husky: freshman outside hitter Alizia Lagando (Huron, OH): team-high 10 kills and 15 digs, double-double, one block, one assist.
 
Standout Beacon: Marcelle Tiscareno: match-high 12 kills, four total blocks, one dig, .421 hitting%.
 
How It Happened: 
- Two Kelsey Pereira kills with a couple of USM miscues and a dual block put the home squad ahead 7-1 in the early going. The Huskies called a timeout and got a sophomore outside hitter Brianna Delloiacono (Moodus, CT) middle mash for their first kill. Newcomer right side Isabella Smith (Merrimack, NH) responded with her fourth ace of the season dropping the Southern Maine deficit to four 7-3. Trailing 9-6, the Huskies notched the next two markers both via attack errors to come within one, 9-8 as the Beacons took their first timeout of the set. UMB built their advantage up to three a couple of times over their next few serves with a bad set by USM increasing the score to 18-15. Ally Dean then banged home an ace for the 20-16 Beacon edge. The Beacons eventually won the set 25-20 off a Taryn Broughal kill.
 
- UMass-Boston started strong again in the second set building a 7-2 margin capped off with an Alyssa Ruan ace. The Huskies stormed back to come within one using four straight markers, three errors, and a freshman middle hitter Madison Zimmer (Regina, SK, Canada) kill. The Beacons countered with six straight of their own, four errors, an ace, and a kill to grow the lead to 13-6. The Beacons were in front 18-10 as a Lagando and Kim Grant (Saco, ME) kill dropped the Husky deficit to 18-12. UMB would close the set on a 7-1 spurt to take the second set.
 
- The Huskies took their first lead of the match at 2-1 in the third set via a Smith kill and UMB attack error. The Beacons then were ahead 9-6 off the strength of four points in a row. USM rallied to deadlock the score 9-9 when freshman Sarah Haggerty (Lisbon, ME) tipped the ball over the middle blockers for the point. A UMB service error and a bad set regained a two-point advantage to Southern Maine, 14-12. Two miscues and an ace put the hosts back in the lead 15-14. Point swapping ensued as serve/receive was key in tying the score 20-20 for both sides. A Lagando power stroke into the hardwood pushed the Huskies ahead, but UMB closed the match outscoring the Huskies 5-1 to complete the sweep.
 
Inside The Box Score: 
- Lagando had four of the Huskies eight kills in the opening set and she hit .571. 
- Broughal recorded five kills and a .833 hitting percentage in set one.
- Lagando racked up her sixth double-double of the season with her 10 kill and 15 dig effort. It was her seventh game of the season with double-digit kills. 
- UMass-Boston had 14 service aces to the Huskies one, but the Beacons committed 11 service errors to the Huskies four. 
 
Up Next: The navy and gold remain on the road this Saturday for a tri-match hosted by LEC foe the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth. They play the home team, the Corsairs at noon, and non-conference opponent Massachusetts Maritime Academy at 2:00 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!