Bangor, ME -  Tuesday night brought about a rematch of sorts, as the Husson University women's volleyball team played host to the University of Southern Maine Huskies who had beaten the Eagles a mere two weeks ago.

This meeting would provide another thrilling four set match that was back-and-forth throughout, but would ultimately end in a USM victory (25-21, 25-13, 23-25, 25-22).  

Both teams played great all-around matches, but the Huskies would prove to have just too much firepower in the end as they totaled 44 kills in the four games compared to 21 for the Eagles.  

Game one set the pace for the entire evening, as both teams played point-for-point in the early going.  With USM holding a slim 16-15 lead, Husson would create a side-out and go on a subsequent run to take a 19-16 advantage. 

The Eagles would hold the lead at 20-17 before USM was able to get a side-out and go on a run of their own to take a 21-20 lead.  Husson would again even the score at 21-21, but could not hold onto the serve which gave possession back to the Huskies.  USM Libero Demi Ruder was able to take care of things from there, including a clutch ace that gave the Huskies a 24-21 lead as they took game one in comeback fashion.  

Game two got off to a quick start for USM as they took an immediate 8-0 lead.  Husson would not go away quietly however, as they fought back to within two at 14-12.  The Huskies would then go on a run behind the strong serving of Amanda Keppel, who was able to extend the lead to 19-12.  USM wouldn't look back from there as they took a 2-0 lead in the match.  

Game three looked like it would go the same way as the first two, as USM got out to an early 3-0 advantage.  Yet again the Eagles would not count themselves out of the match, as they went on an 8-2 run to force USM into a timeout.  The two sides would go back-and-forth from there until the Huskies re-gained the lead at 13-12. 

Keppel would lead a USM charge again with a six-point run that looked like it could potentially seal the match, but the Eagles had other ideas.   

Caela Fenderson (Charlotte, ME) would come into the game and give Husson life with a five point run of her own, highlighted by some fantastic defense, that kept Husson's hopes alive.  

"We got some impressive defensive play from someone who frankly hasn't gotten a whole lot of playing time in Caela, which was great," Husson coach Jodie Fairbank said after the match.  "We did some great things as a team with transitions and covering our hitters, which hasn't always been the case, but we've been working on it," she added.  

USM was clinging to a 23-20 lead, just two points away from sweeping the match, but Husson's Lindsay Chapman (Gorham, ME) would take the serve for the Eagles and rattle off enough points to finish an improbable comeback that forced a fourth game.

Game four would yet again start out in favor of the Huskies, as they jetted out to a commanding 14-6 advantage.  The two sides would yet again trade points back-and-forth until it was 24-16 USM, but Husson would use their last chance to make another run at trying to force a fifth set.    

Alexandra deHertogh (Cumberland, RI) would rotate to the service position, and immediately put away an ace that kept the Eagles' hopes alive.  

"There was no one else I would have wanted serving in that spot than D-H (deHertogh), because she knows how to deal with the pressure," Fairbank said.  

Husson rallied off four more points that made it a 24-22 USM lead, forcing the Huskies to call a timeout as they were playing completely on their heels.  The stoppage would prove effective, as USM was able to put away one last kill that gave them the hard-fought victory.   

"Losing stinks, but overall I was pleased," Fairbank assessed after the game.  "They did so well with coming back, and we did some things that we've needed to work on for going forward, and our serving was consistent."

Renee Trottier paced the Huskies offense with 11 kills, while Jessica Garrett added eight.  Keppel finished with six kills and 17 digs to go along with four aces, while Megan Nilson dished out 23 assists and six aces of her own.    

Husson was led by Chapman with seven kills, while deHertogh and Kristen Atwood (Cumberland, ME) tallied four each.  Chapman also contributed a team-high 21 digs, while Casey Lopes (New Bedford, MA) totaled 16 assists and 16 digs.  

USM improves to 12-3 with the victory, while Husson slips to 7-9.

The Eagles will look to get back to the .500 mark with a doubleheader Saturday when they travel to North Dartmouth, Massachusetts.  Husson will take on Plymouth State at 1 p.m., followed by a contest with U-Mass Dartmouth at 3 p.m.