WESTON, Mass. – The Husson University women's volleyball team turned in two gritty efforts on Saturday, Sept. 20, but fell in straight sets to both Emerson and host Regis (MA) in a non-conference tri-match at the Regis Athletic Complex.
Emerson 3, Husson 0
The opening match of the day featured long rallies and late drama in each set. After a 4–4 start, Husson (1-9) moved ahead 11–8 behind back-to-back kills from graduate student Julia Leavitt and a service ace by sophomore Kimberly Daniels. Emerson (6-5) answered with a decisive 7–0 serving run by Kori Meissner, turning a 16–11 Husson lead into an 18–16 deficit. The Lions closed out the set 25–19 despite late kills from freshman Kate McPhee.
Husson came out strong in the second set, racing to a 5–0 advantage on three early attack errors forced by sophomore Mikayla Gray's tough serving. The set became a back-and-forth thriller with 12 ties. Leavitt's kill from sophomore Amanda Mei Morse knotted it at 24–24, and McPhee's winner gave Husson a 27–26 edge before Emerson snatched the final three points for a 29–27 win.
The Eagles again rallied in set number three, erasing a 22–19 deficit as McPhee and Leavitt combined for three late kills to force extra points. Emerson finally sealed it 28–26 to earn the match victory.
McPhee finished with nine kills and a .316 attack percentage, while Leavitt added eight kills and seven digs and freshman Peyton Hooker dished 22 assists, in addition to Morse collecting nine digs.
Regis 3, Husson 0
Husson regrouped quickly for the nightcap and nearly pushed the Pride to a fourth set, as Regis (6-6) broke a 2–2 tie with an 8–1 run fueled by Ava Catalanotto's serving and never looked back, 25–14 in set one.
The Eagles responded with their best stretch of the day in the second set. Gray opened with consecutive kills and a service ace, and Morse added an ace to help build a 9–3 lead. Regis slowly chipped away and edged ahead 22–21, but kills by McPhee and Leavitt tied it late before the Pride escaped 25–23.
Another quick Husson start in set three saw aces from freshman Autumn Balyint and Gray spark an early 7–2 cushion. Regis countered with a 7–0 surge, and the teams traded points to 22–22. A kill by McPhee kept Husson alive at 23–24, but a final Regis swing ended the match.
Gray delivered five service aces, three kills and five digs, while McPhee tallied seven kills. Hooker handed out 10 assists, and Morse anchored the defense with 12 digs and two aces.
Husson will return to Bangor for its home opener on Wednesday against Saint Joseph's College of Maine at 6 p.m.
