Bangor, ME - The Husson University Eagles volleyball team started the 2014 season on a solid note Friday night, sweeping the University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls in straight sets (25-16, 25-10, 26-24) to kick off the round-robin Husson Invitational Tournament.  

Husson's influx of youth was on display, as nine of the 16 players that appeared in the match were making their college debuts as first-year players.  Coach Jodie Fairbank's club has just one senior on the roster, accompanied by two juniors and four sophomores.

One of those first-year players is outside hitter Kaitlyn Carl (East Machias, ME), who led the Eagles with three kills and three services aces for the match.  Six other Husson players all contributed two kills apiece, while Nia Arranaga (San Jose, California) was lethal from the service line with five aces.   

"It was great to see all the hard work from the preseason put together on the court," Fairbank said after the win.

"No matter who was on the court, they all played well together," she added.  

Katie Patenaude led the Owls with three kills for the match, while Shannon Brown served up a pair of aces in defeat.  

In the other match of the night, the University of Maine at Fort Kent Bengals outlasted the Unity College Rams in four sets (25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19).  

Hope Grace led the Bengals attack with 11 kills, while Anna Peabody chipped in with eight.  

Jackie Collins paced the Unity squad with 10 kills, with Mikayla Twiss adding nine and Lexi Yashin passing out 19 assists.  

Tomorrow (Saturday, August 30) will hold a full slate of volleyball at Husson's Newman Gymnasium.  Husson will face UMFK at 10AM with UMPI and Unity playing at the same time, followed by Husson/Unity and UMFK/UMPI doing battle at noon.  The two teams with the best records through their three contests will then play in the championship match at 2PM, with a consolation match happening at the same time.