USM WVB: Husky Volleyball Downed 3-0 in Season Opener

Husky Volleyball Downed 3-0 in Season Opener

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BEVERLY, MA – The University of Southern Maine women’s volleyball team began their 2021 season on the road at non-conference opponent Endicott College Wednesday evening. The loss sends the Huskies to 0-1 on the year while the Gulls improve to 1-0.

 

Four of the seven USM players that started the

first set of the match were freshmen. Endicott, who has won three of the last four Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships received 34 votes in the preseason edition of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll. 

BOX SCORE

 

When and Where: Wednesday, September 1, 2021 -- MacDonald Gymnasium

 

Score: Gulls 3, Huskies 0 (15-25, 20-25, 10-25)

 

History: This was the fourth meeting between the two programs and the first since September 3, 2016. The Gulls are 4-0 against the Huskies in the series.

 

How It Happened:

 

- Southern Maine led 7-4 in the early stages of the first set. Endicott rallied by producing the next nine points to jump ahead 13-7. Their nine consecutive markers were part of a 19-5 scoring binge. The Huskies would not go down without a fight as they tallied the next four straight points using an ace, kill and two miscues before Endicott closed out the set.

 

- In the second set, the score was tied 3-3 until eight straight points put the hosts in the driver’s seat 11-3. Trailing by 10, the Huskies eventually pulled within three 17-14 via a 9-2 spurt using three straight kills, two by freshman outside hitter Alizia Lagando (Huron, OH) and one by sophomore outside hitter Brianna Dellolacono (Moodus, CT) coupled with an attack error. The Gulls took the second set 25-20.

- Endicott started strong in the third set pushing ahead 11-4. Over the next few scoring chances, the Gulls doubled up the navy and gold 8-4 to lead 19-8 in the final set.

 

Standout Husky: Brianna Dellolacono, eight kills, five digs, two aces, one total block

 

Standout Gull: Nicole Winkler, five kills, .333 hitting%, two digs, two aces, one total block

 

Inside the Box Score: The Huskies hit .059 in the second set which was their highest-scoring set (20 points, 10 kills) in the match. Endicott hit .269 in the opening and final set and had double-digit kills in all three sets. Southern Maine had only one service error compared to their counterparts two.

 

Milestone Watch: Team captain Sophie Lindsay (Sierra Madre, CA) did not play in the match and remains 37 assists away from the 1,000 assist mark. Head coach Diane Newell already the program’s all-time leader in wins (99), needs one more for 100 in her collegiate career. 

 

Up Next: The Huskies remain on the road Friday, September 3rd for a 6:00 p.m. bout with the University of New England on the campus of the Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish.