GORHAM, ME – The University of Southern Maine opened the 2022 season with a hard-fought loss to Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Thursday evening at Hill Gym. The back-and-forth battle raged on for five sets but ultimately the Monks came away with the victory after winning the deciding set 16-14.
 
When and Where: Thursday, September 1, 2022 – University of Southern Maine – Hill Gymnasium
 
Score: Monks 3, Huskies 2 (25-20, 25-22, 25-17, 25-23, 16-14)
 
The Records: Southern Maine:  0-1; Saint Joseph's: 1-0.
 
History: This was the 81st meeting between the two programs. The Huskies lead the all-time series 50-31.
 
How It Happened:

• After trailing 7-4 early in the first set the Monks rallied back with six straight points to take a 10-7 lead. The Huskies answered with three consecutive points of their own before the visitors scored seven straight to take a commanding lead. Although the Huskies were able to tie the game at 19-19 the Monks scored six of the final seven points to take the first set 25-20.
• It was the Huskies who held the lead for the majority of the second set and while the Monks had long rallies late in the set Southern Maine was able to withstand their comeback attempts to take the set 25-22 and tie the match at 1-1.
• Saint Joseph's broke a 12-12 tie in the third set with a 7-0 run and took the set 25-17 to put themselves up 2-1.
• With their backs against the wall and trailing 21-18 late in the fourth set the Huskies fought back with five points in a row and even though the Monks closed the gap to 24-23 a kill from Madison Zimmer forced the match into a fifth set.
• The fifth and final set matched the intensity of the previous four with strong showing from both sides but in the end the Monks were able to prevail with a 16-14 win to take the match 3-2.

 
Inside The Boxscore

• Brianna Delloiacono (Moodus, CT) led all players with 16 kills followed by Meg Perry (Gorham, ME) and Isabella Smith (Merrimack, NH) who each notched 10.
• Smith and Delloiacono tied for the team lead in digs with 15 apiece while Sierra Castonguay (Nottingham, NH) totaled 14.
• Savannah Hunter (Saco, ME) tallied 39 assists in her collegiate debut.
• Maggie Sylvester led the Monks in kills with nine while Nadia Sixto led them in points with seven kills, six aces and a solo block.

 
Up Next: Southern Maine will host the University of New England on Friday evening at 5:00 pm at Hill Gymnasium.