BANGOR, Maine — Junior Lilly Andreasen recorded 24 kills across two matches as the Husson University volleyball team opened North Atlantic Conference play against Maine Maritime Academy on Saturday at Newman Gymnasium.
The Eagles took the second set of the opener before falling 3-1 by scores of 25-21, 19-25, 25-16 and 25-7. The Mariners earned a 3-0 victory in the second match, winning 25-22, 25-14 and 25-13.
Match 1: Maine Maritime 3, Husson 1
Husson (1-11, 0-1 NAC) battled through a closely contested opening set, holding a 15-14 advantage following a combined block from sophomore Peyton Hooker and junior Autumn Peterson.
Maine Maritime (4-9, 1-0 NAC) pulled ahead 20-16, but the Eagles answered with four consecutive points behind two kills from Andreasen and two service aces from Hooker to tie the set. Another Andreasen finish brought Husson even at 21-21 before the Mariners scored the final four points to take the opener.
The Eagles responded in the second set, with senior Janna Preskorn delivering consecutive service aces to help establish an early lead. Preskorn added two more aces during a four-point run that extended Husson's advantage to 16-11.
Maine Maritime cut the deficit to 16-15, but Andreasen answered with a kill to keep the Eagles in front. Husson later scored five straight points to build a 23-16 advantage before Preskorn closed out the 25-19 victory with a kill, evening the match at one set apiece.
The Mariners built a 15-6 lead in the third set before Husson rallied for five consecutive points. Preskorn supplied three straight kills during the run, while Hooker added another to help trim the deficit to 15-11. Maine Maritime regained control to take the set 25-16 before closing the match with a 25-7 fourth-set victory.
Andreasen led the Eagles with 14 kills and added eight digs. Preskorn contributed nine kills, a team-high 16 digs, five service aces and two block assists.
Freshman Eden Fraser directed the offense with 30 assists while collecting eight digs. Hooker finished with six kills, 14 digs and two aces, while freshman Kiara Griffin also recorded 14 digs. Peterson added five kills, 13 digs and three block assists.
Match 2: Maine Maritime 3, Husson 0
The Eagles (1-12, 0-2 NAC) worked their way back from an 11-4 deficit in the opening set of the second match, scoring six consecutive points to pull within one. Andreasen, Peterson and Fraser each contributed a kill during the rally, while Hooker added a service ace.
Preskorn later delivered three consecutive kills during a four-point run that gave Husson a 16-14 lead. Back-to-back finishes from Andreasen helped extend the advantage to 20-17, and the Eagles remained ahead 21-18 before the Mariners (5-9, 2-0 NAC) responded with five straight points.
Preskorn brought Husson within 23-22 with another kill, but Maine Maritime claimed the final two points to secure the 25-22 victory.
The Mariners established an early lead in the second set. Husson continued to battle, putting together a four-point run that included a kill from Preskorn and two from Andreasen, but Maine Maritime took the set 25-14.
Preskorn recorded five kills in the third set, while Peterson added two late finishes, before the Mariners completed the match with a 25-13 decision.
Preskorn led Husson with a double-double of 13 kills and 12 digs, while Andreasen added 10 kills. Fraser finished with 23 assists and eight digs, and Hooker paced the defense with 13 digs. Griffin contributed seven digs and two service aces.
Husson will travel to the University of Maine at Fort Kent on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. matchup.
