The University of Southern Maine volleyball team continued play in their 2009 schedule, as they took on the Beavers of the University of Maine Farmington in a non-conference matchup at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham last Tuesday. The Beavers came away with the victory 3-1, but USM earned their first game win of the season.
The Huskies came out strong in the beginning of the match as they were anchored by the experience and leadership of senior captains Shannon Shuttle (New Ipswich, NH), and Danielle Netland (Cumberland, ME). The squad looked lively as they were down early, but then scored a quick 7 points to claim the lead back and would not give it up, winning the first game 25-16. The next three games featured the Beavers’ solid serving game, which included 17 aces, and their ability to create a bump, set, spike in the majority of their volleys. Communication served as the catalyst to the Beavers’ strategy as their well organized play helped them capitalize on second chances. Communicating well is something that USM is working harder to get better at.
“I think since we’re kind of an inexperienced group, we’re lacking some of that confidence that UMF had,” Shuttle said. “We just need to start communicating better and make better decisions on the court.”
The Beaver’s would get another early lead in the second game and would not relinquish it. UMF jumping out to a quick start served as the theme in the third and fourth games as well. UMF took the second, third, and fourth games 25-20, 25-14, and 25-15. Junior co-captain Jenna Rowan paced UMF’s aggressive attack with a match high of 13 kills and a team high of nine digs, to go along with a .434 hitting percentage. Sophomore opposite hitter Shannon Mitchell added nine kills of her own. UMF’s senior outside hitter Caitlin Flaherty looked very solid as she served up six aces, while Mitchell and junior Katie Allen each chipped in four aces. Sophomore middle back Amanda Mullane pitched in on the defensive side as she made five solo blocks. Allen, who is a Bucksport, Maine native, also had a team high 12 assists in a match that Farmington looked dominant in after they dropped the first game to the Huskies.
“After our first win in game one, we seemed to get into the habit of digging ourselves a hole we weren’t able to get out of. UMF did a good job of getting the lead early and kept that momentum, and that’s what we need to do. Many of our girls aren’t used to the collegiate level yet, but I have confidence we will keep working hard and just try to get better every day. It will pay off in the end,” added Shuttle, who contributed seven kills, a match-high 13 digs, and one ace, to go along with the obvious leadership she conveys on the court.
Senior co-captain Danielle Netland led the Husky attack which made a valiant effort at a comeback in the final game, but couldn’t hold off the Beavers. Netland tallied nine kills, 8 digs and one ace. Sophomore setter Laurie Boulay (Biddeford, ME) finished the match with a match high 19 assists.
“We were communicating well in the beginning of the match as our passing was solid, and we did a good job of getting in and covering hitters. After that I think our fundamentals just kind of fell off,” mentioned Coach Anne Tricomi. “We just have to keep working hard and if we do that I believe things will come.”