Southern Maine Athletics

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – The University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's volleyball team was defeated by Worcester State University and Mount Holyoke College on Saturday afternoon in a tri-match at Mount Holyoke. The Huskies dropped their first match 3-0 to the Lancers before falling to the hosts in four sets. Senior Kylee Eubanks-Hemme (Rosamond, Cali.) recorded nine points in each match to lead the Huskies. Junior Alexis Tortola (Rowland Heights, Cali./Bishop Amat) recorded 10 assists in each match.
 
Freshman Sofia Daoud (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) had 19 total digs across the two matches with 12 coming against Worcester State. Sophomore Lizzy Harbester (Plympton, Mass./Silver Lake Regional) was the team's leader in digs against Mount Holyoke with 12 to match her career high.
 
Game 1 vs. Worcester State
The Records:
Southern Maine: 4-9
Worcester State: 1-14
 
Series History:
Today's match was the first time that Southern Maine and Worcester State have played since September 15, 2012. Worcester State leads the all-time series 7-0.
 
How It Happened:

• The Lancers took a 1-0 lead with a 25-22 win in the opening set. With the score tied at 15-15, the Lancers used a 5-0 run to retake the lead before the Huskies managed to tie the score at 22-22. Worcester State then scored three of the next four points to take the set. The Huskies recorded 14 kills in the set with five coming from Eubanks-Hemme
• Worcester State led from start to finish in the second set on their way to a 25-14 win. The Lancers had 12 kills in each of the first two sets.
• Southern Maine fought hard in the third set to tie the score late at 21-21. However, the Lancers closed out the set on a 4-0 run to take the set 25-21.

 
Inside The Stats:

• Worcester State had a slight 32-29 lead in kills and a 5-2 lead in blocks.
• Each side had seven aces and 28 assists. Harbester and sophomore Reese Helisek (Halifax, Mass./Silver Lake Regional) each had two aces for the Huskies.
• Eubanks-Hemme led the Huskies in kills with eight, while senior Anyelis Hernandez (Lawrence, Mass.) had five.
• Southern Maine had two players reach double figures in digs with Daoud recording 12 and Hernandez recording 10.

 
Game 2 vs. Mount Holyoke
The Records:
Southern Maine: 4-10
Mount Holyoke: 6-4
 
Series History:
The Huskies faced the Lyons for the first time since October 13, 2018. Mount Holyoke leads the series 7-1.
 
How It Happened:

• The Lyons established an early lead with an 8-0 run after giving up the first two points of the match to the Huskies. They remained ahead the rest of the way for a 25-14 set win.
• Southern Maine got off to a fast start in the second set with a 5-0 run to open the frame, but the Lyons chipped away at the lead to tie the score at 14-14. The Huskies jumped back ahead thanks to a 3-0 run only for Mount Holyoke to tie the set again at 18-18. A 4-0 run that included kills by Harbester and sophomore Haylie Bidegain (Logan, N.M), a Daoud ace and a block by Harbester and Bidegain put the Huskies up 22-18. A few plays later the Lyons fourth back from set point at 24-20 with a 5-0 run to take a 25-24 lead before an attack error turned possession over to the Huskies who scored the final two points on a kill by Hernandez and a Eubanks-Hemme ace to even the match at one set apiece.
• Another quick start helped Mount Holyoke to a 25-17 win in the third set after using a 6-0 run to pull away and get to set point.
• Mount Holyoke scored the first seven points of the fourth set on their way to a 25-18 win to take the match.

 
Inside The Stats:

• The Lyons led 44-24 in kills, 42-23 in assists, 7-3 in blocks and 21-14 in aces.
• Eubanks-Hemme recorded four aces to lead the Huskies. Helisek and Bidegain each had three.
• Hernandez led the Huskies in kills with seven followed by Harbester with six.
• Sophomore Taylor Joyal (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North) recorded a season-high 11 digs to rank second on the team behind Harbester's 11.

 
 
Up Next:
The Huskies will host UMass Boston on Wednesday at 7:00 pm in Hill Gym.