AUBURN, Maine – NHTI Volleyball fell to Central Maine Community College in three sets Wednesday evening in the Yankee Small College Conference East Division Quarterfinals at CMCC's Kirk Hall Gymnasium, 28-26, 25-18 and 25-21.
The loss moves NHTI to 12-5 overall and concludes the Lynx's YSCC postseason run. Central Maine improves to 14-2 overall and advances to the conference semifinals Sunday.
Wednesday's matchup marked a rematch of the 2025 YSCC quarterfinals, when NHTI traveled to Auburn on the same date and defeated the Mustangs in five sets to advance to the conference Final Four. Central Maine entered this year's postseason having won both regular-season meetings between the teams.
NHTI opened Wednesday's contest with the first two points, including a service ace from Esther de Souza Quina (Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil), before Central Maine answered with a run of its own.
The Mustangs recorded six of the next seven points to build a 6-3 lead before the teams traded points, bringing the score to 8-6 Central Maine.
Central Maine recorded back-to-back points, forcing an NHTI timeout at 10-6 CMCC, and added the first point out of the break. The Lynx responded, scoring three of the next four points, cutting the deficit to three (12-9).
Central Maine eventually extended its lead to 15-10 before NHTI answered with three consecutive points to cut the deficit to 15-13. The teams then traded two-point runs, bringing the score to 17-15 Central Maine.
The Mustangs eventually built a 22-17 lead, forcing an NHTI timeout. The Lynx responded with three consecutive points.
An Ashlynn Williams (Greenfield, N.H.) kill followed by back-to-back Mustangs attack errors brought the score to 22-20.
After Central Maine brought the opening set to set point, kills from Emma Kowalski (Atkinson, N.H.) and sophomore captain Brooke Kelly (Nottingham, N.H.) brought NHTI within one, forcing a CMCC timeout.
Williams led the Lynx out of the break with a service ace to even the set at 24-24 before a Central Maine attack error gave NHTI a 25-24 advantage.
The Mustangs answered with two consecutive points to regain the lead, but Kelly responded with another kill to tie the set at 26. Central Maine ultimately recorded the final two points to take a 28-26 opening-set victory.
Central Maine carried the momentum into the second set, opening an 8-2 advantage before extending its lead to 15-5.
NHTI cut into the deficit with a three-point run, capped by a kill from de Souza Quina that brought the Lynx within seven at 15-8. However, the Mustangs regained control, building a 24-14 lead before NHTI responded.
Kelly recorded a kill, and a block involving Kelly and Haven Schwartz (Buxton, N.C.) helped the Lynx cut into the deficit. Kowalski followed with three consecutive service aces to bring NHTI within 24-18, but Central Maine closed the set on the next point for a 25-18 victory.
The Mustangs again opened an early advantage in the third set, scoring the first five points before extending their lead to 11-3. NHTI continued to battle back, but Central Maine eventually built a 20-9 advantage.
Kelly helped lead a late push, recording five kills as the Lynx worked their way back into the set. NHTI eventually cut the deficit to 23-20 following consecutive Central Maine attack errors, but the Mustangs secured two of the final three points to close out the match, 25-21.
Kelly led all players with 14 kills and added 10 digs, while Kowalski finished with nine kills and a match-high three service aces. De Souza Quina distributed 22 assists and recorded two aces, while sophomore captain Brooke Hurlbert (Franklin, N.H.) led NHTI defensively with 12 digs. Schwartz also finished with 10 digs as the Lynx totaled 51 in the contest.
Central Maine was led by Errow Hinckley, who recorded 11 kills, while Madison Cleland added eight kills and three solo blocks. Jasmine Cortinas finished with seven kills and 11 digs, and Gianna Cantu distributed 32 assists.
Wednesday's result marks the first time in three seasons under head coach Toni Bailon (Manchester, N.H.) that NHTI has not advanced to the YSCC Final Four. The Lynx reached the conference semifinals in 2024 before advancing to the YSCC Championship in 2025.
YSCC POSTSEASON OUTLOOK
Central Maine advances to face Word of Life Bible Institute in Sunday's YSCC semifinals at 11:30 a.m., following Word of Life's three-set quarterfinal victory over Paul Smith's College (Oct. 21).
The other semifinal will feature Southern Maine Community College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at 9:30 a.m. Southern Maine advanced with a three-set victory over Great Bay Community College (Oct. 20), while Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences defeated Vermont State University Randolph in four sets (Oct. 21).
Both semifinals and the YSCC Championship, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., will be played Sunday, Oct. 25, at Southern Maine Community College.
The YSCC will also present its 2026 Volleyball All-Conference awards immediately following Sunday's 9:30 a.m. semifinal matchup. All-Tournament awards will be presented following the conference championship.
LOOKING AHEAD
While NHTI's YSCC postseason run has concluded, the Lynx await the announcement of the USCAA Division II Volleyball National Championship field.
The USCAA will announce its Division II championship selections Monday, Oct. 26, at 12:30 p.m. during its live bid selection show.
Any potential schedule additions will be reflected on NHTI Volleyball's schedule and announced on social media.
The 2026 USCAA Volleyball National Championships are scheduled for Nov. 4-7 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
