October 27, 2011

GORHAM, ME – Saint Joseph's (18-10, 7-5 GNAC) toppled University of Southern Maine (0-21, 0-6 LEC), 3-0 (25-7, 25-7, 25-4), in a non-conference volleyball match on Thursday night. Sophomore Brooke Dyer (Lebanon, Maine/St. Thomas Aquinas) posted a spectacular .643 hitting percentage with nine kills and zero errors in 14 attacks in the win.

The Monks, who entered the match having dropped two in a row for just the third time all year, were able to get back on track by posting a season-best .437 hitting percentage as a team with just three miscues and 31 kills in 64 attacks versus the Huskies. With the win, St. Joe's avoided its first three-game losing streak of the year.

The hosts struggled mightily in a match that required just one hour to complete. USM tallied just four kills – the lowest total by an SJC opponent over the last four seasons – with a negative .065 attack percentage on the night.

For the Monks, Sarah Hawkes '13 (Pownal, Maine) registered seven kills, nine digs, three service aces and two block assists, Kristin Palladino '14 (Exeter, N.H.) added six kills and four digs, Kiah Begley '13 (Berwick, Maine/St. Thomas Aquinas) recorded 28 assists, four digs and three aces, and Holly Bannister '14 (Cumberland, Maine) chipped in with five aces and three kills.

For the Huskies, Hannah Patterson '12 (Londonderry, N.H.) notched a pair of kills and a solo block and Madalyn Terry '14 (Kennebunkport, Maine) had four assists and seven digs in a losing effort.

Saint Joseph's travels to Framingham State University for a 7:30 PM match on Friday and closes out the regular season with a GNAC match on the road versus Albertus Magnus College (4-20, 1-11 GNAC) on Saturday. Southern Maine caps the 2011 campaign with a home conference match versus Eastern Connecticut State University this Saturday at 1:00 PM.