GORHAM, Maine – The Bowdoin College Polar Bears defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies in three sets in a non-conference women's volleyball match on Wednesday evening in Gorham. Freshman Mariah Eaton (West Yarmouth, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth Regional) led the Huskies with eight kills and had three digs, two solo blocks, and two block assists. Her eight teams were tied with Bowdoin's Alison Smith for the most in the match.
 
Freshman Reese Helisek (Halifax, Mass./Silver Lake Regional) recorded 13 assists for the Huskies. Freshman Lizzy Harbester (Plympton, Mass./Silver Lake Regional) recorded 5.5 points on three kills, two aces and a solo block. Sophomore Ella Koehler (Pickerington, Ohio/Fairfield Christian Academy) added three kills and tied with junior Amelia Beatty (Rochester, N.H./Spaulding) for the team lead in digs with seven.
 
The Records:
Bowdoin: 3-2
Southern Maine: 1-6
 
Series History:
Tonight's match was the 30th in the all-time series between the two Maine schools. Bowdoin leads the series 24-6.
 
How It Happened:

• The first set was the most competitive of the match and saw each time rally to tie the score at several points. A service error by the Polar Bears allowed the Huskies to tie the match at 8-8 before junior Kylee Eubanks-Hemme (Rosamond, Cali.) hit three aces in a row. Bowdoin countered with a four-point run that also featured back-to-back-to-back aces. The Huskies tied the set at 12-12 only for Bowdoin to rip off a 6-1 run to take a 17-13 lead. It was then the Huskies' turn to battle back, and they tied the match at 19-19 with a 6-1 run of their own. The next four points all went Bowdoin's way as they managed to hold on for a 25-21 win.
• Bowdoin led for the majority of the second set and went ahead 2-0 with a 25-14 win.
• The strong play of the Polar Bears continued into the third set as they opened the set on a 9-1 run and closed out the match with a 25-12 win.

 
Inside The Stats:

• Bowdoin led 12-7 in aces with half of their total coming from Zoe Ryu. Eubanks-Hemme led the Huskies with three and Harbester had two.
• Five players on Bowdoin had five or more kills.

 
 
Up Next:
The Huskies have a road tri-match at Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Saturday with a 1:00 pm match against Nichols College and a 3:00 pm match against the hosting Buccaneers.