THE BASICS 
Match 1: Lesley University, 0 vs University of Maine- Presque Isle, 3 (25-12, 25-17, 25-14)
Match 2: Lesley University, 0 vs University of Maine- Presque Isle, 3 (25-13, 25-19, 25-12)

Records: 
University of Maine- Presque Isle Owls (8-12, 6-4 NAC)
Lesley University Lynx (0-15, 0-8 NAC)

Location: Presque Isle, Maine - Wieden Hall

Date: Friday, October 18, 2024

THE LEAD—In another doubleheader against each other, the University of Maine - Presque Isle (UMPI) swept the Lesley University women's volleyball team, 3-0 in both matchups Friday evening. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 1)

• Lesley opened things up early in the first set as the Lynx raced out to a quick 6-3 lead, highlighted by a kill from Alawnah Dunda (Fort Ann, N.Y.) and service ace from Candace Ells (Boston, Mass.). 
• After the Owls rallied back and even things at seven, Lesley recaptured the lead and went up 9-8 thanks to an Owls error and Shae Thomas (Clayton, N.C.) kill. However, UMPI pulled ahead with a quick 6-0 run (14-9), which included five service aces from Mia Gutierrez that led to a Lesley timeout. 
• Coming out of the timeout, UMPI continued its momentum to close the frame. The hosts finished set one on an 11-1 run for the 25-11 victory.
• In set number two, UMPI grabbed a quick four-point lead (5-1), but despite the early advantage, Lesley cut its deficit down to three (6-3) after capitalizing on an Owls service error. UMPI though started to pull away after going on a 9-3 spurt for a 15-6 lead. 
• The Lynx tried to claw their way back into the match, cutting the Owls lead in half (16-8) thanks to a Hannah Kurkul (Dayton, Maine) kill. Despite cutting the UMPI lead to eight, the hosts pulled away with a 9-6 closing run (25-14). 
• UMPI once again would open the set on a quick burst of offense, this time going up 5-0 early on. However, Lesley responded with a run of its own and retook the lead (6-5) after a UMPI attack error. Estephany Morales (New York, N.Y.) played a key part in Lesley's run with two service aces. 
• Both sides continued to go back and forth, and after a Thomas ace made it a one-point game (11-10), the Owls once again utilized a large run (14-4) that ultimately secured the opening match victory, 25-14.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (Match 1)

• Thomas and Korinne Hall-Johnson (North Brunswick, N.J.) led the Lesley attack with two kills each.
• Hall-Johnson and Thomas led the Lynx with 13 and 12 digs, respectively.
• Morales' two service aces marked a new in-game career high for the junior. Meanwhile, Ells tied her in-game career-high in service aces with two. 
• Rylie Kolkow paced the Owls offense with 25 assists in the opening match. 
• Three different UMPI student-athletes finished with at least five kills (Jade Anspach, Myah Bragdon, and Brooklyn Siebrasse).

HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 2)

• Lesley took advantage of two errors from UMPI to quickly go ahead 2-1 in the opening set. However, the Owls pulled away as the hosts went on a 12-1 run for a 14-3 lead. The Lynx tried to cut into the deficit after Renee Hatch (Norway, Maine) made it 15-7 with a service ace. Despite cutting the lead to eight, UMPI ultimately secured the opening set win with a 10-6 burst (25-13).
• Early in set two, both sides traded points, which allowed Lesley to keep pace with the high-powered UMPI offense. After a UMPI attack error tied things at four for Lesley, the Owls went ahead with a 6-0 run thanks to three kills and two aces from Evelyn Elijah. 
• Although UMPI scored six straight, they could not fully pull away as Lesley kept hanging around. After UMPI went up 14-10, the Lynx stayed within striking distance thanks to multiple UMPI attack and service errors and a Thomas kill that cut the Owl lead to two (15-13).
• However, the Owls gave themselves some space, going on a 5-1 run to make it 20-14. But despite the scoring burst, Lesley once again pulled within three (20-17) thanks to more errors from the Owls and a Kurkul kill. Unfortunately, UMPI closed out the competitive set with a 5-2 run for a 25-19 win.
• Lesley took a quick 4-3 lead in the final set after a UMPI attack error. However, the Owls just as quickly retook the lead and doubled its advantage (8-4) with a 5-0 burst.
• Later in the match, after Lesley trimmed the deficit to five (13-8) thanks to a Yulina Ticas-Parajon (Revere, Mass.) kill, UMPI secured its first double-digit lead of the set thanks to a 5-0 run that made it 18-8. From then on, the hosts won the match with a 7-4 run, making it 25-12. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (Match 2)

• Thomas once again led the Lesley attack with four kills. 
• Mariah Febo (Boston, Mass.) and Thomas each finished with three assists. 
• Hall-Johnson recorded two service aces and is her third game this year with two or more.
• UMPI totaled 40 kills on the night highlighted by Engel's nine. 
• Kolkow once again guided the Owls offense with 34 assists. 

UP NEXT

• Lesley continues its Maine road trip with another North Atlantic Conference matchup at Husson University tomorrow, Saturday, October 19, at noon.