USM Sweeps Eastern Connecticut and Emmanuel

Sophomore Jess Williamson prepares for an attack during the Huskies tri-match with Eastern Connecticut and Emmauel.

Huskies Gain First Win Over Eastern Since 2003
Williamson Posts Two Double-Doubles

            GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore outside hitter Jess Williamson (Goffstown, N.H.) posted a pair of double-doubles to help the University of Southern Maine women's volleyball team sweep Eastern Connecticut State University and Emmanuel College in a tri-match Saturday afternoon at the Warren Hill Gymnasium.

            In the opening match, the Huskies defeated Eastern Connecticut for the first time since 2003, and just the second time in series history, by a 3-0 score (25-21, 25-23, 26-24), and later came back from a set down to knock off Emmanuel 3-1 (11-25, 28-26, 25-16, 25-23).  In the middle match, Eastern Connecticut came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Emmanuel 3-2 (25-13, 17-25, 21-25, 28-26, 15-11).

            USM snapped a four-match losing skid with its Little East Conference win over Eastern Connecticut, and improved to 6-7 overall (1-1 LEC) with the two wins.  With the split, Eastern Connecticut is 6-7 overall (1-1 LEC).  Emmanuel slipped to 2-9 overall.

            Playing their best match of the season against Eastern Connecticut, USM jumped out to a 2-0 before rallying late in the third set to take the match.  Williamson had 18 kills and 15 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.  Junior Megan Nilson (Granby, Conn.) had 23 assists, three aces and eight digs.  Rookie Nicole Schmitz (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham) contributed nine assists, three aces and eight digs.

            For the Warriors, junior Kay Mullen (Fairhaven, Mass.) had 10 kills, and classmates Ashley Adams (Mystic, Conn./Fitch Senior) and Hannah Bryant (Avon, Conn./The Master's School) had nine kills apiece.  Rookie Leah Sopneski (Deep River, Conn./Valley Regional) had 18 assists, and senior libero Allie Luppi (Tewksbury, Mass.) matched Williamson with 15 digs to share match-high honors.

            Against Emmanuel, the Huskies dropped the opening set and trailed 17-6 in the second set before rallying for a momentum swinging 28-26 win.  After taking the third set to go up 2-1, the Huskies surged midway through the fourth set to take the lead, then held off a valiant effort from the Saints to take the decisive point.

            Williamson had another big match with 19 kills and15 digs for her sixth double-double.  She also had three aces and three blocks.  Nilson picked up a double-double as well with 29 assists and 10 digs.  Rookie Cammi Baumann (Salida, Calif./Joseph Gregori), who provided the pivotal spark in the second set, had six aces and 12 digs.  Senior libero Demi Ruder (Grand Junction, Colo./Central) added 17 digs and three aces.  The Huskies served 17 aces in the match.

            Junior Cassie Chruscielski (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) led Emmanuel with 12 kills, four aces and nine digs.  Rookie Carly Church (Higganum, Conn./Haddam-Killingworth) had 19 assists, and junior Sarah Schemerhorn (Los Angeles, Calif./Venice) had a double-double with 14 assist and 12 digs.

            In the Eastern Conn.-Emmanuel match, Mullen pounded down 17 kills, and junior Fabiana Della-Monica (Newark, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech) passed out 25 assists.  Chruscielski, senior Brittany Tutalo (Johnston, R.I./St. Mary Academy) and rookie Angelica Czercowy (Hebron, Conn./RHAM) combined for 31 kills.  Church picked up a double-double with 24 assists and 10 digs.

            Southern Maine will be back in action on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.) hosting Daniel Webster College.  Eastern Connecticut will be on the road at Western New England University on Tuesday (7:00 p.m.).  Emmanuel hosts Mt. Ida College in its next match on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.).