CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Husson University volleyball team earned a pair of straight-set victories over Lesley University in a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader Saturday at Simmons University.
The Eagles opened the afternoon with a 25-20, 25-18, 25-13 victory before completing the sweep with a 25-11, 26-24, 25-11 win. Husson improved to 7-15 overall and 5-3 in conference play, while Lesley fell to 3-14 and 2-8 in the NAC.
Match 1: Husson 3, Lesley 0
Husson overcame an early 5-1 deficit in the opening set, scoring four consecutive points behind two kills from junior Lilly Andreasen and another from junior Autumn Peterson to pull even. Peterson later delivered consecutive service aces to give the Eagles a 10-8 advantage.
The teams remained close throughout the set, with Lesley eventually tying the score at 18-18. Senior Janna Preskorn answered with a kill before an Andreasen finish and a Preskorn service ace put Husson ahead 21-18. The Eagles secured the final three points of the set, capped by an Andreasen kill, to take the opener 25-20.
Husson used another strong serving stretch to take control of the second set. Trailing 14-13, the Eagles rattled off six consecutive points, including two Andreasen aces and a Preskorn kill, to move ahead 19-14. Peterson added two aces during a later five-point run before freshman Eden Fraser finished the set with a kill for the 25-18 victory.
The Eagles built a 6-2 advantage in the third set and maintained their lead as Lesley worked back within 9-8. Husson answered with four straight points and later stretched a 15-11 lead to 20-11 behind a run that included a service ace from freshman Kiara Griffin and a kill from Andreasen. Andreasen delivered the match-ending ace to secure the 25-13 win.
Andreasen paced Husson with 14 kills while hitting .400, adding eight digs and three service aces. Preskorn finished with nine kills, 12 digs and two aces, while Peterson contributed five kills without an attack error and a team-high five aces.
Fraser directed the offense with 24 assists and added eight digs. Griffin matched Preskorn with 12 digs and contributed four assists, while sophomore Peyton Hooker recorded three kills, eight digs and two service aces.
Husson finished the opener with 33 kills, 33 assists, 13 service aces and 50 digs while hitting .261.
Match 2: Husson 3, Lesley 0
The Eagles carried their momentum into the second match, opening with seven unanswered points as Preskorn served four aces during the run. Husson continued to build its advantage, with Preskorn adding three kills during a four-point stretch that extended the lead to 20-8. Griffin closed the set with consecutive aces to give the Eagles a 25-11 victory.
Lesley challenged Husson throughout the second set and eventually moved ahead 24-21. The Eagles fought off three set points, beginning with a Lesley service error before Andreasen delivered a kill and Preskorn served an ace to tie the score. Preskorn followed with another ace, and Andreasen finished the comeback with a kill to secure the 26-24 win.
Husson jumped ahead 4-0 in the third set before Lesley narrowed the margin to 5-4. The Eagles regained separation and later scored seven consecutive points to turn a 9-6 lead into a 16-6 advantage. Peterson served three aces during the run, while Preskorn added two kills.
The Eagles closed the match with four straight points, receiving a solo block from Peterson and consecutive service aces from Hooker before Andreasen delivered the final kill of the 25-11 victory.
Preskorn led Husson with 13 kills without an attack error, hitting .433 while adding 11 digs and six service aces. Andreasen recorded a double-double with 12 kills and a team-high 16 digs while hitting .333.
Fraser handed out 25 assists and collected nine digs, while Hooker contributed four kills, 11 digs and two aces. Peterson added three kills, five service aces and a solo block, and Griffin finished with seven digs and three aces.
Husson totaled 33 kills, 32 assists, 17 service aces and 56 digs in the second match, finishing the afternoon with 30 aces across the two victories. Preskorn's 22 kills across the two matches brought her career total to 826, moving her into third place on Husson's all-time kills list.
Husson will return to Newman Gymnasium on Tuesday to host the University of Maine at Presque Isle in a doubleheader, with matches scheduled for 5 and 7 p.m.
