CONCORD, N.H. – NHTI Volleyball returns to the Dr. Goldie Crocker Wellness Center Sunday afternoon for a pivotal Yankee Small College Conference matchup, hosting Central Maine Community College at noon as part of the second day of NHTI Homecoming Weekend.
The matchup features two of the top three teams in the YSCC East standings with postseason positioning on the line. NHTI enters Sunday at 11-2 overall and 7-2 in conference play, sitting second in the East behind Southern Maine Community College, which stands at 8-1 in the YSCC. Central Maine enters at 9-2 overall and 6-2 in conference play, one-half game behind the Lynx in the division standings.
Sunday will mark the second meeting between NHTI and Central Maine in less than two weeks. The Mustangs handed the Lynx their most recent loss Sept. 23 in Concord, earning a 3-0 victory by scores of 25-20, 30-28 and 25-18.
NHTI has responded with three consecutive sweeps since that defeat. The Lynx defeated York County Community College on Sept. 26, Holyoke Community College on Sept. 28 and Great Bay Community College on Sept. 30, improving to 4-1 at home and 11-2 overall.
Central Maine also enters Sunday firmly in the YSCC East race. The Mustangs won six straight matches following a Sept. 16 loss at Southern Maine, including their Sept. 23 victory over NHTI and a sweep of the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Their winning streak came to an end Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to Southern Maine.
The Lynx have produced one of the conference's top attacks this season, totaling 391 kills while averaging 9.8 kills per set. NHTI has also recorded 138 service aces and 52 total blocks while holding opponents to a .032 hitting percentage.
Brooke Kelly (Nottingham, N.H.) leads the NHTI attack with 131 kills and 3.54 kills per set, both of which lead the YSCC entering the weekend. Kelly has also contributed 111 digs, 21 service aces and 21 total blocks. Kelly was named YSCC Player of the Week for Week 2 (Sept. 15).
Esther de Souza Quina (Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil) has directed the Lynx offense with 256 assists, averaging 6.40 per set, while adding 125 digs, 29 service aces and a team-high 24 total blocks. Her .246 hitting percentage also ranks among the top five in the conference. De Souza Quina was named USCAA Specialist of the Week and YSCC Player of the Week for Week 3 (Sept. 22).
Defensively, Ashlynn Williams (Greenfield, N.H.) leads NHTI with 136 digs and averages 3.68 per set, while Haven Schwartz (Buxton, N.C.) has added 129 digs and de Souza Quina has recorded 125.
Central Maine features several players among the YSCC statistical leaders. Jasmine Cortinas enters the matchup with 105 kills and averages 3.28 per set, while Madison Cleland is hitting .282 and averaging 0.66 blocks per set. Gianna Cantu leads the Mustangs' offense at 7.16 assists per set, and Allyson Emerson averages 4.33 digs per set.
NHTI holds a 10-8 advantage in the all-time series against Central Maine dating back to 2017, although the Mustangs have won eight of the last 10 meetings. Prior to Central Maine's Sept. 23 victory, the Lynx won each of the final two meetings of the 2025 season in five sets, including a 3-2 road victory in the first round of the 2025 YSCC playoffs, the teams' most recent meeting in Auburn.
Sunday's contest comes during the second and final day of NHTI Homecoming Weekend and begins at 12 p.m. at the Dr. Goldie Crocker Wellness Center. The match will be streamed live at YSCCSportsNetwork.com.
