New London, NH - The Husson University volleyball team was in New Hampshire for their first North Atlantic Conference matches of the season on Saturday.  Unfortunately for the Eagles, the NAC showed its depth in the first day of competition as Husson dropped both matches to tough conference foes Colby-Sawyer College and Castleton State College. 

In the opener against the Colby-Sawyer Chargers, Husson was overpowered by the defending NAC champions in straight sets (25-13, 25-20, 25-8). 

The Chargers (14-5, 2-0 NAC) compiled an impressive .293 hitting average as a team while serving up 11 aces as well.  Jackie Keating led Colby-Sawyer with 10 kills in the match, while Stephanie Vecchio and Kelsey Sullivan each added six kills.  Laura Smolinski ran the offense for the Chargers, handing out 29 assists in the three games. 

Husson (5-18, 0-2 NAC) was led by Rashell Saucier (Washburn, ME) in the match with five kills, while Emma Plouffe (Frankfort, NY) and Bailey Cote (Biddeford, ME) each chipped in with four.  Kayla Hannon (Salem, NH) was back on the court for the Eagles after missing a week with a concussion, and immediately contributed with 11 assists in the match.

Husson would have a quick turnaround to the match with the Castleton State Spartans, and the Eagles would put up a fight before falling in a hotly-contested match in four sets (25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 25-17).  

Husson had a better hitting percentage and more blocks than the Spartans, but defense proved to be key as Castleton out-dug the Eagles 76-56. 

Kaylee Pratt and Cassidy Tedeschi paced the Spartan offense with eight kills apiece, while Amanda Chambers contributed seven kills.  Michaela Babineau handled the offense by passing out 17 assists in the win as Castleton improved to 5-10 overall and 1-1 in NAC play. 

Alexandra deHertogh (Cumberland, RI) had a great match to lead the Eagles, putting away seven kills while tallying three solo blocks and three block assists.  Kristen Atwood (Cumberland, ME) added six kills in defeat, while Saucier added five more as well.  Hannon and Ryan Hood (Princeton, ME) split the setting duties for Husson, each of them providing 10 assists.

The Eagles will look to right the ship in their next contest when they head to the University of Maine-Machias for a match on Tuesday (October 7) at 6:30.