PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Seven different players recorded at least three kills as Plymouth State University used a balanced attack to sweep the University of Southern Maine, 3-0 (25-9, 25-16, 25-17), in a Little East Conference women's volleyball match at Foley Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
The Panthers dominated the opening set, scoring the first nine points en route to a 25-9 win. Southern Maine stayed within five points for much of the second set, but sophomore
Fiona Bailey (Wrentham, Mass.) notched consecutive kills during a 4-1 run as the Panthers pulled away. Junior
Danielle Emerson (Biddeford, Maine) served consecutive aces midway through the third set to build a six-point lead, helping Plymouth State secure its fourth straight sweep.
Plymouth State improves to 15-4 (5-1 LEC), while Southern Maine drops to 5-16 (0-5 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Southern Maine 0
- Plymouth State (15-4, 5-1 LEC)
- Southern Maine (5-16, 0-5 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Emerson recorded a pair of aces during a nine-point service run to open the first set. The Panthers extended their lead to 15-1 and never looked back. Sophomore Sya McKay (Somersworth, N.H.) slammed four kills as PSU hit .360 in a 25-9 win.
- McKay's kill gave the Panthers a 7-3 cushion early in the second set. Bailey's back-to-back kills extended the lead to 20-13 and forced a timeout. Senior Annalyn Cahill (Mystic, Conn.) added a kill out of the break, and Cahill and McKay would team up on a block to cap the 25-16 victory.
- Freshman Maddie Andrade (Hooksett, N.H.) opened the third set with consecutive kills to set an early tone, though Southern Maine stayed within striking distance. Emerson's back-to-back aces helped extend the margin to 15-7. The Huskies got as close as 17-13, but junior Sydney Riley (Haverhill, Mass.) answered with a kill, and PSU closed out the sweep, 25-17.
By the Numbers:
- Cahill led the Panthers with six kills (.357), while Riley and McKay added five kills apiece.
- Andrade slammed four kills in just one set of action.
- Emerson notched 22 assists, 10 digs, five aces and three kills.
- PSU hit .274 for the match while limiting the Huskies to .031.
- Plymouth State finished with 10 aces.
- The Panthers never trailed in the match.
- Plymouth State has never lost to the Huskies, improving to 33-0 all time. PSU hasn't lost a set to USM since 2022.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host Bates College on Saturday (Oct. 24) at 3:30 p.m.
– 30 –
