#21 Bowdoin Defeats Huskies In Straight Sets

GORHAM, ME – The University of Southern Maine volleyball team welcomed their fans back for their home opener Tuesday evening and were upended 3-0 by no. 21 nationally-ranked Bowdoin College in the Polar Bears opening game of the 2021 slate. The loss sends the Huskies to 2-3 while the guests improve to 1-0.

 

When and Where: Tuesday, September 7, 2021 --

The University of Southern Maine -- Warren G. Hill Gymnasium

 

Box Score: Polar Bears 3, Huskies 0 (14-25, 11-25, 24-26)

 

History: This was the 26th meeting between the two programs. The Polar Bears are 20-6 against the Huskies in the series. Bowdoin has won the last 12 matches in the series. 

 

Standout Husky: freshman outside hitter Alizia Lagando (Huron, OH), team-high six kills, two aces, two blocks, one assist, and five digs.

 

Standout Polar Bear: senior middle blocker Cori Gray, game-high 15 kills, .545 hitting%, four total blocks, one dig.

 

How It Happened: 

 

- With the Huskies down 6-0 in the early going of the first set, they rallied for four consecutive markers. A Bowdoin attack error got the Huskies on the board then a senior right side hitter Kim Grant (Saco, ME) and freshman middle blocker Sarah Haggerty (Lisbon, ME) dual block was the second point. Lagando kept service and dumped in back-to-back aces to make it 6-4. Behind 17-11, the Polar Bears went on a 7-0 scoring spurt to take a commanding lead 24-11 before winning the set 25-14.

 

- The second set saw the home squad go down 7-5 early getting their fifth point off a BC mistake. The guests then put together nine in a row capped off by a Sophia Pahl ace to lead by 11, 16-5. Bowdoin doubled up USM 22-11 and got two Pahl kills sandwiched in between a Husky attack error to take the second set.

 

- In the third set USM looked like they would force the all-important fourth set as they had a commanding 23-15 edge late, however, Bowdoin outscored Southern Maine 11-1 over the final serves to complete the sweep.

 

Inside the Box Score: 

 

- Bowdoin had two players with over 10+ assists.

- Both programs had an equal number of blocks (eight to eight).

- Southern Maine forced the Polar Bears into five service errors, but the Huskies had six ball handling errors to BC’s one.

 

Up Next: The navy and gold hit the road for a tri-match this coming weekend hosted by New England College in Henniker, N.H. The Huskies will battle Lasell University at 2:00 p.m. before taking on the host Pilgrims at 4:00 p.m.