POTSDAM, N.Y. — The Husson University volleyball team rallied late in several sets Saturday as it concluded the North Country Challenge with a pair of non-conference matches against Keuka College and Hilbert College.
The Eagles opened the afternoon with a 25-16, 25-17, 25-19 setback against Keuka before pushing Hilbert beyond 25 points in each of the final two sets of a 25-16, 26-24, 26-24 decision.
Keuka 3, Husson 0
Husson (0-7) faced an early 7-2 deficit in the opening set before consecutive kills from sophomore Peyton Hooker and a service ace from senior Janna Preskorn pulled the Eagles within two.
The Wolves (5-7) rebuilt their advantage, but Husson continued to battle late in the set. Trailing 23-10, the Eagles scored four consecutive points by Hooker and back-to-back Preskorn kills. Junior Autumn Peterson added a kill in the closing points before Keuka secured the 25-16 victory.
The Eagles worked to keep pace in the second set, using kills from Preskorn and junior Lilly Andreasen during a three-point run to cut the deficit to 12-9. Keuka answered with eight straight points to take control before closing out a 25-17 win.
Husson fell behind 8-0 in the third set but gradually worked its way back. A combined block from Andreasen and freshman Abby Vose helped the Eagles trim the deficit to 14-10.
Later trailing 22-14, Husson put together five consecutive points. Peterson and Preskorn opened the run with a combined block before Peterson added a service ace and Preskorn supplied a kill to help bring the Eagles within three at 22-19. The Wolves claimed the final three points to complete the match.
Hooker led Husson with 10 kills while hitting .207 and added nine digs and a service ace. Preskorn contributed seven kills, seven digs, a service ace and a block assist, while Andreasen finished with four kills, seven digs and a block assist.
Freshman Kiara Griffin collected a team-high 10 digs, while freshman Eden Fraser handed out 18 assists and added five digs. Peterson recorded three kills, four digs, a service ace and a block assist.
Husson finished the match with 24 kills, 22 assists, four service aces, 42 digs and two blocks.
Hilbert 3, Husson 0
Husson (0-8) built a 10-8 lead in the opening set against Hilbert before the Hawks (5-8) responded with seven consecutive points. The Eagles cut the deficit to 15-13 behind a Preskorn service ace and a kill by Hooker, but Hilbert pulled away to take the set 25-16.
The Eagles mounted their largest comeback of the afternoon in the second set, erasing a 21-13 deficit with 10 consecutive points. Hooker opened the run with a kill before Griffin took over at the service line, recording three aces during the stretch. Hooker added another kill as Husson moved ahead 23-21.
After Hilbert tied the score, a Hawks service error gave the Eagles set point at 24-23. Hilbert answered with three consecutive points to claim the set 26-24.
The third set featured another back-and-forth finish. Trailing 18-15, Husson scored four straight points behind kills from Peterson and Preskorn and a Hooker service ace to take a 19-18 lead.
The Eagles later moved ahead 22-20 before Hilbert responded with three consecutive points. Preskorn delivered a kill to tie the score at 23-23, and a Fraser service ace gave Husson another set-point opportunity. The Hawks again claimed the final three points to close out a 26-24 victory.
Preskorn paced the Eagles with 10 kills and a team-high 16 digs while adding two service aces. Hooker finished with seven kills, 10 digs and three aces, while Peterson hit .214 with five kills and four digs.
Fraser directed the offense with 23 assists and collected nine digs. Griffin contributed three service aces and five digs, while Andreasen added three kills, six digs and an ace.
Husson finished with 25 kills, 24 assists, 10 service aces and 50 digs. Preskorn's 17 kills across the two matches brought her career total to 650, moving her into sixth place on Husson's all-time kills list.
The Eagles will return home Tuesday to host the University of Maine at Fort Kent at 6 p.m. inside Newman Gymnasium.
