BIDDEFORD, Maine – Sophomore
Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.) and junior
Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) combined for 31 kills and for the second straight night Plymouth State University rallied after dropping the opening set, cruising to a 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-9) win over the University of New England at Coach Beaudry's Court on Saturday evening.
Plymouth State took an early lead in the opening set, but the Nor'easters used a large run to surge in front before holding off a late push. Plymouth State closed out set two with an 8-1 spurt to even the match, then ripped off an 11-0 run in the pivotal third set to take control. PSU wasn't challenged in the fourth set, coasting to a 25-9 win.
Plymouth State runs its winning streak to four, improving to 6-2 overall. UNE drops to 1-7 on the season.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, UNE 1
- Plymouth State (6-2)
- UNE (1-7)
How it Happened:
- Sophomore Morgan Drinkwater (Steep Falls, Maine) notched a kill to give PSU a 13-6 lead in the opening set, but the home team battled back. The hosts used a 14-3 run to take a 20-16 lead. Drinkwater's block pulled the Panthers to within 24-22, but a Nor'easters' kill closed out the set.
- The Panthers got out to another good start in set two as Ryan's kill made it 11-5. UNE rallied to even the score at 12-12, but Plymouth State had the answer and maintained a slight edge. Leading 17-16, PSU ripped off an 8-1 surge to even the match.
- Plymouth State hit .314 in the third set, racking up 14 kills to seize control. Junior Aynslee King (Anacortes, Wash.) slammed a kill to snap an 8-8 tie, and sophomore Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) notched a pair of aces during a lengthy service run as PSU roared in front, 19-8. The Panthers coasted from there, with King's kill capping the 25-13 win.
- PSU maintained control throughout the fourth set. Already leading 9-5, the Panthers used a ten-point run to put the game out of reach. Junior Ryley McNeeley (Easton, Mass.) had three kills in the spurt, with King adding a pair and PSU rolled to a 25-9 victory.
By the Numbers:
- Ryan recorded a match-best 16 kills and hit .429, while Stogner recorded her fifth double-double with 15 kills and 20 digs.
- Marucci led all players with 26 digs, while sophomore Imalay Rodriguez Martinez (Juncos, Puerto Rico) added 14.
- Freshman Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) posted 46 assists and led the team to a .268 attack percentage.
- Plymouth State has never lost to the Nor'easters, improving to 10-0 all-time.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head back to Maine on Tuesday (Sept. 20) when they visit St. Joseph's College for a 6:00 p.m. contest.
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