JOHNSON, Vt. — The Husson University volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to win the opening match before dropping the second contest of a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader against Vermont State University Johnson on Saturday at Carter Gymnasium.
The Eagles opened with a 23-25, 24-26, 25-18, 25-17, 15-13 victory before falling 25-22, 25-23 and 25-20 in the second match.
Husson 3, VTSU-Johnson 2
Husson battled through two tightly contested opening sets before mounting its comeback to earn its first conference victory of the season.
The Eagles remained within reach throughout the closing points of the first set. Junior Autumn Peterson delivered a kill to tie the score at 23-23, but the Badgers claimed the final two points for a 25-23 victory.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Husson holding a late 23-22 advantage. After Johnson moved ahead 24-23, junior Lilly Andreasen supplied a kill to keep the Eagles alive. The Badgers answered with consecutive points to take the set 26-24 and build a 2-0 match lead.
Husson responded by scoring the first six points of the third set, highlighted by two kills from Peterson and a service ace from freshman Eden Fraser. Senior Janna Preskorn later served consecutive aces as the Eagles extended their advantage to 10-3.
Husson maintained its lead through the remainder of the set. Kills from Andreasen and Preskorn helped the Eagles reach set point before a Johnson ball-handling error secured the 25-18 victory.
The Eagles faced another deficit in the fourth set, falling behind 8-3 before working back into contention. Trailing 15-13, Husson scored eight consecutive points to take control. Preskorn started the run with a kill, Peterson contributed back-to-back service aces and Andreasen added three kills as the Eagles moved ahead 21-15.
Andreasen supplied another kill down the stretch, while freshman Emery Ballard recorded a solo block to help Husson close out a 25-17 victory and force a deciding fifth set.
The teams traded points throughout the final frame, with Preskorn recording four kills as Husson moved ahead 8-7. Johnson later took a 10-9 lead, but the Eagles answered with three straight points, including an Andreasen finish and a Peterson service ace.
The Badgers pulled even at 13-13 before consecutive Johnson attack errors gave Husson the final two points of the 15-13 victory, completing the comeback.
Preskorn led the Eagles with 25 kills while hitting .333 and added 30 digs and three service aces. Andreasen finished with 21 kills and 25 digs, while Fraser recorded 47 assists, 12 digs and three aces.
Freshman Kiara Griffin collected 24 digs, and Peterson contributed seven kills, 10 digs, four aces and a solo block.
Husson finished with 54 kills, 52 assists, 11 service aces and 104 digs, improving to 3-12 overall and 1-2 in NAC play.
VTSU-Johnson 3, Husson 0
The Eagles continued to battle in the second match, pushing Johnson through three competitive sets.
Husson trailed 21-14 in the opening set before scoring seven consecutive points to draw even. Preskorn delivered four straight kills during the run, and Andreasen followed with back-to-back service aces to make it 21-21.
Preskorn later supplied another kill to tie the score at 22-22, but the Badgers scored the final three points to take the set 25-22.
The Eagles stayed close late in the second set, cutting a 22-19 deficit to 22-21 following consecutive Johnson attack errors. Peterson then delivered a kill to fight off set point at 24-23 before the Badgers secured the final point for a 25-23 victory.
Husson built a 7-4 advantage in the third set before Johnson rallied and eventually moved ahead 18-11. The Eagles responded with four consecutive points, highlighted by two Preskorn finishes and an Andreasen service ace, to trim the deficit to 18-15.
Husson continued to fight through the closing points, but Johnson held on for the 25-20 victory to split the doubleheader.
Preskorn recorded another double-double with 17 kills and 11 digs. Preskorn totaled 42 kills across the two matches, bringing her career total to 784 and moving her into fifth place on Husson's all-time kills list.
Peterson added eight kills and eight digs, while Andreasen finished with five kills, a team-high 20 digs and three service aces.
Fraser handed out 24 assists to go along with five digs and three aces, while Griffin contributed 18 digs and two assists.
Husson totaled 31 kills, 26 assists, six service aces and 64 digs. The Eagles finished the day at 3-13 overall and 1-3 in NAC play, while Johnson moved to 13-9 and 6-2 in the conference.
Husson will return home next Saturday to host Vermont State University Lyndon in a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader at Newman Gymnasium. The matches are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
