STANDISH, Maine – The University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team dropped two games at the Coast of Maine Classic hosted by Saint Joseph's College on Saturday falling to Saint Joseph's and Maine Maritime Academy by a score of 3-0 in both matches. Senior Brianna Delloiacono (Moodus, Conn./ Nathan Hale-Ray) recorded 17 kills on the day along with 28 digs.
 
Game 1 vs Saint Joseph's
 
The Records:
Southern Maine 0-2
Saint Joseph's 1-1
 
Series History:
Today's match was the 83rd meeting between the local rivals. Southern Maine leads the all-time series 50-33 but the Monks won both contests between the two teams last year. Saint Joseph's beat the Huskies 3-2 on September 1, 2022 in the season opener and then won the second meeting on October 6, 2022 by a score of 3-1.
 
How It Happened:

• The Huskies got off to an early 6-2 lead before the Monks were able to battle back with a 5-0 run to overcome a 12-9 deficit and held the lead for the rest of the set for a 25-20 win.
• In the second set it was the Huskies who mounted a strong comeback by scoring six straight points to tie the set at 13-13 after trailing 13-7. Half of the points during the run came from kills from sophomore Drew Johnson (Pismo Beach, Cali. /Brewer). Despite the momentum built up by Southern Maine the Monks broke the tie and remained just ahead for the Huskies to close out the set 25-21.
• Saint Joseph's were able to complete the sweep by winning the third set 25-19 despite a valiant effort by the Huskies.

Inside The Stats:

• Delloiacono led the Huskies in both kills (10) and digs (22).
• Johnson finished second on the team in digs with nine.
• Freshman Cassidy Weiher (Aurora, Colo./ Cherokee Trail) had a game-high 22 assists plus nine digs and three kills.
• Freshman Amelia Beatty (Rochester, N.H./ Spaulding) recorded three service aces and added 10 digs.
• Nadia Sixto recorded nine kills to lead the Monks followed by Larisa Comolli's eight.
• Three Monks had double-digit kills led by 17 from Victoria Briones. Jessica Christman recorded 13 and Kailyn Chamberlin had 10.
• Saint Joseph's hit .160 during the match compared to Southern Maine's .066 clip.

 
Game 2 vs Maine Maritime
 
The Records:
Southern Maine 0-3
Maine Maritime 2-0
 
Series History:
Today's match was the 21st time the two teams have faced off and the win by Maine Maritime makes the series record 11-10 all time in favor of the Huskies. The Mariners came away with a 3-1 win the last time the teams played on September 2, 2022.
 
How It Happened:

• Maine Maritime took the first set 25-20 thanks to a late surge after a back-and-forth battle.
• The second set featured the score being tied 11 times and six lead changes but the Mariners were able to pull out a 25-17 victory to go up two sets to none.
• The Mariners opened the third set with seven consecutive points to cruise to a 25-11 set win to take the match 3-0.

Inside The Stats:

• Delloiacono once again led the Huskies in kills with seven and also had six digs.
• Senior Sierra Castonguay (Nottingham, N.H./Dover) and junior Isabella Smith (Merrimack, N.H.) each had double-digit digs with 15 and 12 respectively.
• Weiher led the team in assists with 12.
• Maine Maritime's Sydney Williams led all players in kills with nine.
• Hunnie Zuber-Stephens had a game-leading 23 digs and three aces.
• Katie Albritton recorded 28 assists to lead all players.

Up Next:
The Huskies will face another in-state opponent on Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm against Bowdoin College.