GORHAM, Maine – Freshman Mariah Eaton (West Yarmouth, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth Regional) tied the University of Southern Maine women's volleyball program record for total blocks in a five-set match with nine (four solo and five block assists) on Saturday as the Huskies came back from trailing two sets to none to beat Rhode Island College 3-2 for their first Little East Conference win of the season. The Huskies also swept Thomas College 3-0 as part of their home tri-match. Eaton logged 13.5 points in the win against Rhode Island College on five kills, two aces, four solo blocks and five block assists.
 
Sophomore Ella Koehler (Pickerington, Ohio/Fairfield Christian Academy) also had an impressive day with a career-high 21 kills against the Anchorwomen, a total that ranks in the top 10 in program history for a five-set match. She also led the team in digs with 12. In the second game, Koehler added another 10 kills and nine digs. Another sophomore, Macie Ahmer (Lake Villa, Ill./Grayslake North), recorded 45 assists on the day plus nine digs and three aces.
 
Eaton as far from the only freshman to turn in a great performance as classmates Reese Helisek (Halifax, Mass./Silver Lake Regional), Haylie Bidegain (Logan, N.M.), Taylor Joyal (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North) and Lizzy Harbester (Plympton, Mass./Silver Lake Regional) all put up solid numbers.
 
Helisek recorded 40 assists and five aces on the day highlighted by a team-leading 25 against RIC. Bidegain was a force to be reckoned with and had double-digit kills in each match with her 12 against Thomas leading the team. Joyal totaled 19 digs, seven kills and three aces on the day. Harbester also contributed to the offense with 13 kills on the afternoon.
 
Game 1 vs. RIC
The Records:
Rhode Island College: 7-10 (0-4 LEC)
Southern Maine: 5-15 (1-2 LEC)
 
Series History:
Rhode Island College leads the all-time series 24-9. Today's win is the first for the Huskies in the series since a 3-0 win on October 16, 2021.
 
How It Happened:

• The Anchorwomen edged out the Huskies 25-23 in the opening set despite the Huskies rallying back from set point to make the score 24-23.
• An early 5-0 run helped RIC gain momentum and an 8-3 lead. The visitors stayed in the lead the rest of the way to win the set 25-21.
• Helisek had back-to-back-back aces to end the third set as the Huskies stayed alive by finding themselves on the right side a 25-23 win this time around.
• The Huskies had two 7-0 runs in the fourth set as they forced a fifth set with a 25-17 win. Koehler had four kills in the first of those 7-0 runs.
• Southern Maine never trailed in the final set and a kill by Koehler secured the Huskies a 15-13 set win to complete their second reverse sweep of the season.

 
Inside The Stats:

• The Huskies led 14-9 in blocks with Eaton leading the way. Harbester also had three block assists.
• Junior Amelia Beatty (Rochester, N.H./Spaulding) placed second on the team in digs with 10.

 
 
Game 2 vs. Thomas
The Records:
Thomas: 3-11
Southern Maine: 6-15
 
Series History:
Today's match was the ninth time that the two Maine schools have faced off. The Huskies are a perfect 9-0 all-time against the Terriers.
 
How It Happened:

• Thomas started off the match on a 3-0 run, but the Huskies hung around and took a 12-8 lead thanks to a 6-0 run that featured two kills by Koehler, one by Eaton and another by junior Kylee Eubanks-Hemme (Rosamond, Cali.). Thomas closed the gap to a point at 17-16 and then again at 18-17 only to be outscored 7-1 after that as the Huskies took the set 25-18. Koehler, Eubanks-Hemme and Eaton each had two kills in the run and Beatty had an ace.
• The Huskies won the second set 25-20 to go ahead 2-0.
• The third set was the closest of the match as the Huskies completed the sweep with a 25-23 win. Thomas tied the set at 22-22 but the Huskies were able to hang on for the victory as Koehler once again ended the match with a kill.

 
Inside The Stats:

• Beatty led the Huskies with 13 digs followed by Joyal with 10.
• Ahmer led the Huskies with 22 assists while Helisek had 15.
• Eubanks-Heeme ranked third on the team in kills with six.

 
Up Next:
The next match for the Huskies will be a non-conference road match at Husson University on Tuesday at 6:30 pm.