WATERVILLE, Maine — The Husson University volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to win the opening match of a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader against Thomas College before falling in four sets in the nightcap Saturday at Larry Mahaney Gymnasium.
The Eagles secured an 18-25, 23-25, 26-24, 25-21, 15-8 victory in the opener before Thomas answered with a 26-28, 25-23, 25-21, 25-21 win. Husson concluded its regular-season schedule with a berth in the NAC tournament.
Match 1: Husson 3, Thomas 2
Husson fell behind early in the opening set as Thomas built a 7-3 advantage. The Eagles worked back within 9-9 following a four-point run that included consecutive service aces from sophomore Peyton Hooker, but the Terriers regained control and pulled away for a 25-18 victory.
The Eagles remained within striking distance throughout the second set, with senior Janna Preskorn delivering consecutive kills to help Husson move ahead 14-10. Thomas responded later in the frame, using five unanswered points to turn a 19-15 deficit into a 20-19 lead. Husson continued to battle, but the Terriers held on for the 25-23 win.
Facing a two-set deficit, the Eagles found themselves trailing 19-9 in the third before mounting their comeback. Junior Lilly Andreasen began a seven-point run with a kill, while Hooker served two aces and Preskorn and junior Autumn Peterson added kills to bring Husson within 19-16.
The Eagles continued to chip away, tying the score at 20-20 on a solo block from Peterson before scoring four straight points to move ahead 24-20. Thomas answered to pull within 24-23, but Preskorn delivered a kill to give Husson another set point. After the Terriers scored again, Preskorn and Hooker each recorded a kill to secure the 26-24 victory.
Husson carried that momentum into the fourth set, breaking a 3-3 tie with seven consecutive points. Peterson served two aces during the run, while Preskorn contributed two kills as the Eagles built a 10-3 advantage.
The Eagles later stretched their lead to 24-15 behind consecutive Griffin service aces and an Andreasen solo block. Thomas fought off six set points before Hooker finished the frame with a kill to give Husson a 25-21 win and force a fifth set.
Husson took control early in the deciding set, building a 5-1 lead with help from a Preskorn kill and an Andreasen service ace. The Eagles extended their advantage to 11-4 and closed the match with three consecutive points, including kills from Preskorn and Andreasen, to complete the comeback with a 15-8 victory.
Preskorn led Husson with 23 kills and 21 digs. Her performance brought her career total to 876 kills, moving her into second place on the program's all-time list.
Freshman Eden Fraser recorded 49 assists and 15 digs, finishing one assist shy of Husson's single-match record of 50, set twice by Alyvia McIntyre in 2022. Hooker collected 36 digs, one shy of Sarah Wilson's program record of 37 against Unity on Aug. 30, 2014, while adding eight kills, six service aces and four assists.
Andreasen contributed 13 kills, 20 digs, two aces and three blocks. Peterson added 12 kills while hitting .286, along with 15 digs, two aces and two solo blocks. Freshman Kiara Griffin finished with six digs and two aces.
Husson totaled 57 kills, 55 assists, 14 service aces and six blocks. The Eagles' 113 digs were two shy of the program's single-match record of 115, set against UMaine-Fort Kent on Sept. 8, 2018.
Match 2: Thomas 3, Husson 1
The Eagles battled through an opening set that required extra points, overcoming an early 7-1 deficit to take the lead. Preskorn and Peterson each contributed two kills during a five-point run that put Husson ahead 6-5.
Husson later built a 23-20 advantage before Thomas rallied to take a 26-25 lead. Andreasen answered with a kill to tie the score, and a Thomas setting error followed by a Preskorn kill gave the Eagles a 28-26 victory.
The second set remained close throughout, with an Andreasen solo block and kill bringing Husson even at 23-23. Thomas claimed the final two points to take the set 25-23 and tie the match.
The Terriers built a substantial lead in the third set, but the Eagles continued to push back. Trailing 22-14, Husson scored five consecutive points behind two Andreasen kills, a solo block from freshman Emery Ballard and two Thomas attack errors. The Terriers held off the rally to secure a 25-21 win.
Thomas established another early advantage in the fourth set before Husson worked back into contention. Preskorn and Peterson delivered late kills during a three-point run that cut the deficit to 23-21, but the Terriers scored the final two points to complete the split.
Preskorn and Andreasen led Husson with 14 kills apiece. Preskorn added 16 digs, while Andreasen collected 20 digs and two blocks.
Fraser finished with 43 assists and 11 digs for her second double-double of the day. Hooker contributed nine kills and a team-high 22 digs, while Peterson added nine kills, 18 digs and two blocks. Griffin collected 21 digs.
The Eagles finished the second match with 47 kills, 47 assists, 108 digs and five blocks. Preskorn's 37 kills across the doubleheader brought her career total to 890.
Husson will return to action Saturday, Nov. 14, in the NAC tournament. Tournament seeding and the Eagles' first-round opponent will be announced Monday.
