Bangor, ME - The Husson volleyball team wore pink socks, shoelaces, and even painted their fingernails pink to support breast cancer awareness in tonight's contest against the visiting Bobcats of Bates College at Newman Gymnasium. The gym was electric as the game went back and forth, but in the end, Bates came out on top 3 sets to 1. 

The Bobcats took the first set handily 25-11, as it seemed to take the Eagles some time to find their game. After switching sides, Husson fired back and gave Bates all they could handle, even holding set point 24-23. The visitors rallied back to steal the second game 26-24. The Eagles carried the momentum from the second set into game 3, and held on down the stretch by a score of 25-23. In the end, the Bobcats' powerful hitters took control and won the 4th and final game 25-19 to earn the victory. 

Hannah Olstad (Farmington, NH) led the Eagles with 11 kills and also showed strength on the defensive end with 7 digs. Chelly Smith (New Boston, NH) had a well-rounded match with 8 kills and 10 digs on the night. Aleta Johsnon (Milton, NH) continued her solid season in the assist column, dishing out 21 on the night and adding 7 digs to the cause. Rachel Voicechovski (Westerly, RI) played well as the libero, leading the defense with 25 digs.

For the visting Bobcats, three California-born players finished the game with double digit kills, led by Eliza Pyre (Atherton, CA) with 13, and Chrissy Gee (San Francisco, CA) and Olivia Schow (Costa Mesa, CA) with 10 apiece. First year setter, and felow Golden State native Tess Walther (Santa Monica, CA) tallied 26 assists, while Nicole Russel (Boca Raton, FL) and Emma Getsinger (Darien, CT) each dug 6 in the defensive effort. 

Husson head coach Pat DeBeck was upset at the result, but pleased with his team's performance overall, "It was a little shaky to start, but I liked the way the girls rallied in the second and third sets. As a coach, you're never happy with a loss, but we played a good match tonight. Hopefully we can build off tonight's match moving into this weekend and keep it going the rest of the season."

The Eagles return to action this Saturday when they travel to Framingham, MA for a pair of non-conference contests. They take on the Lancers of Worcester State at 2:00 pm, and the host Rams at 4:00 pm. Bates travels to Colby College on Saturday for two New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) matches against Middlebury at 11:00 am and Amherst at 1:30 pm.