GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's volleyball team dropped both of their matches on Saturday to close out the Maine Invitational. The Huskies were defeated by the University of New England 3-1 and then lost to Maine Maritime Academy in three sets to end the event. Sophomore
Reese Helisek (Halifax, Mass./Silver Lake Regional) had a double-double in the loss to UNE with 18 assists and 15 digs to lead the team in both categories.
Sophomore
Haylie Bidegain (Logan, N.M) recorded 10 kills in the match against UNE, while sophomore
Lizzy Harbester (Plympton, Mass./Silver Lake Regional) and junior
Liv Smith (Scarborough, Maine) each had eight. Bidegain also led the Huskies in points in the match against Maine Maritime with 6.5 on four kills, two solo blocks and a block assist.
Game 1 vs. UNE
The Records:
UNE: 2-0
Southern Maine: 1-2
Series History:
UNE and Southern Maine have now played 67 times with the Nor'easters holding a 44-23 lead in the series.
How It Happened:
- The Nor'easters led throughout the entire first set on their way to a 25-18 win. Senior Anyelis Hernandez (Lawrence, Mass.) recorded four kills in the set to lead the Huskies.
- UNE picked up where they left off in the second set with an early 7-1 and took the set 25-7.
- The Huskies avoided the sweep by winning the third set 26-24. Southern Maine overcame a 10-3 deficit to tie the set at 11-11 and eventually took a 14-13 lead before the Nor'easters jumped back ahead 17-14. The Huskies were able to come from behind again and take the set 26-24 to extend the match.
- The Nor'easters recorded 18 kills in the fourth set to win 25-17 and take the match. Bidegain and Harbester each had four kills for the Huskies.
Inside The Stats:
- The Nor'easters led 64-49 in kills and 8-4 in blocks. Sophomore Scarlett Squires (Mount Desert, Maine/Mount Desert Island) led the Huskies with two solo blocks and two block assists.
- Junior Alexis Tortola (Rowland Heights, Cali./Bishop Amat) recorded 14 assists to rank second on the team. Tortola, freshman Sofia Daoud (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) and senior Amelia Beatty (Rochester, N.H./Spaulding) each had nine digs.
Game 2 vs. MMA
The Records:
MMA: 2-1
Southern Maine: 1-3
Series History:
Maine Maritime leads the all-time series 15-11.
How It Happened:
- The Mariners closed out the first set on a 5-0 run for a 25-12 win.
- Maine Maritime pulled out a tight 25-22 win in the second set thanks to a 5-1 run in a set that saw five lead changes and five ties.
- The visitors finished the sweep with a 25-15 win in the third set.
Inside The Stats:
- Hernandez and Bidegain each had four kills for the Huskies.
- The Mariners led 8-4 in aces. Hernandez accounted for two of Southern Maine's aces which came on back-to-back serves in the first set.
- Daoud led the Huskies in digs with 12.
- Tortola and Helisek each had six assists.
Up Next:
The Huskies will host Bates College on Tuesday at 7:00 pm.
-rwd-
