STANDISH, Maine — The Husson University volleyball team battled through a pair of non-conference matches on Saturday at the Harold Alfond Center, falling in straight sets to both University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) and host Saint Joseph's College of Maine.
The Eagles opened the day against Saint Joseph (Conn.), falling 25-20, 25-16 and 25-22 before dropping a tightly contested 25-19, 25-15, 33-31 decision to Saint Joseph's (Maine) later in the afternoon.
Saint Joseph (Conn.) 3, Husson 0
Husson (0-3) found itself in an early 5-0 hole in the opening set before working its way back into contention. Junior Lilly Andreasen got the Eagles on the board with a kill and Husson eventually pulled even at 15-15 following three consecutive kills from sophomore Peyton Hooker and a kill from junior Autumn Peterson.
The Blue Jays (2-5) answered Husson's run and rebuilt their advantage late in the set. The Eagles continued to battle, getting a Peterson kill and a Hooker service ace in the closing points, but Saint Joseph held on for the 25-20 victory.
Saint Joseph carried the momentum into a 25-16 victory in the second set before closing the match with a 25-22 decision in the third.
Hooker led the Husson attack with seven kills and added 10 digs, while Peterson finished with six kills, three service aces, six digs and a block assist. Andreasen recorded five of Husson's 11 service aces and added three kills and six digs. Freshman Eden Fraser handed out a team-high 10 assists while also collecting 10 digs, while freshman Kiara Griffin contributed nine digs.
Husson finished the match with 16 kills, 11 service aces and 42 digs.
Saint Joseph's (Maine) 3, Husson 0
The Monks (3-4) jumped out to a 7-0 advantage in the opening set of the second match, but the Eagles (0-4) answered with four straight points, highlighted by back-to-back Fraser service aces and a Fraser kill, to cut the deficit to three. Husson continued to chip away throughout the set, receiving kills from Hooker, Andreasen and Peterson before Saint Joseph's held on for a 25-19 win.
Saint Joseph's took the second set 25-15, setting the stage for a marathon third frame.
Husson produced its strongest offensive set of the afternoon in the third, recording 13 kills while hitting .195. The Eagles and Monks traded points deep into extra play, with neither side able to create separation. Husson held a 28-27 advantage before Saint Joseph's answered, and the teams remained deadlocked at 30-30.
After the Monks moved ahead 31-30, Andreasen delivered a kill to tie the set once again at 31. Saint Joseph's responded with a Sophia Fallon kill before an attack error gave the Monks the final point of the 33-31 victory. The third set alone featured 17 ties and seven lead changes.
Peterson and Andreasen paced the Eagles with eight kills apiece in the match. Peterson hit .238 while adding a team-high 13 digs and three service aces, while Andreasen finished with nine digs and a block assist. Hooker contributed six kills and nine digs.
Fraser directed the offense with 17 assists to go along with six digs, two kills and two service aces, while Griffin added six digs, three assists and two aces.
Husson finished the second match with 24 kills, 21 assists, eight service aces and 43 digs, with the Eagles posting their best attacking percentage of the day in the final set.
Husson will be back in action on Friday when it heads to SUNY Potsdam for the North Country Challenge, as the Eagles will take on Vermont State University Johnson and Potsdam on the opening night of the event.
