CONCORD, N.H. – No. 8 NHTI Volleyball fell to Central Maine Community College in three sets Wednesday evening at the Dr. Goldie Crocker Wellness Center, 25-20, 30-28 and 25-18.
NHTI entered the matchup ranked No. 8 in the Week 2 USCAA Division II Poll, released earlier Wednesday. The loss moves the Lynx to 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Yankee Small College Conference play. Central Maine improves to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the YSCC.
Following Wednesday's result, Central Maine joins Southern Maine Community College atop the YSCC East at 6-1 in conference play, while NHTI sits third at 5-2.
Central Maine opened an early advantage in the first set before NHTI worked its way back. A block from Esther de Souza Quina (Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil) pulled the Lynx even at 11-11, and NHTI later moved ahead 15-14 on a kill from Brooke Kelly (Nottingham, N.H.) off a de Souza Quina set.
The Mustangs answered with a run of their own, eventually building a 21-15 advantage. NHTI continued to battle late, including a long rally that ended with a Lynx block, an Emma Kowalski (Atkinson, N.H.) service ace and a Kelly kill that brought NHTI within 24-20, but Central Maine closed the set on the next point for a 25-20 win.
NHTI responded with its strongest stretch of the night in the second set. A Kelly kill opened the scoring before a Kowalski ace and blocks involving Ashlynn Williams (Greenfield, N.H.), de Souza Quina and Kelly helped the Lynx build a 12-7 advantage.
The Lynx continued to control the middle portion of the set, extending their lead to 20-15 before Central Maine began to chip away. The Mustangs eventually pulled even at 22-22 and took a 23-22 lead, but Kelly answered with a kill before recording a block to tie the set at 24.
Williams followed with a tip to put NHTI ahead 25-24, and the Lynx later held advantages of 26-25 and 28-27. Central Maine responded each time, ultimately scoring the final three points to escape with a 30-28 second-set victory and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Mustangs carried the momentum into the third set. After the teams traded points early, Central Maine created separation with a run that pushed its advantage to 13-7.
NHTI continued to battle back, with a Kelly block and a defensive play from Brooke Hurlbert (Franklin, N.H.) helping cut the deficit to 15-12. Later, blocking efforts involving Kowalski and Kelly, followed by another Kowalski ace, kept the Lynx within striking distance.
Williams added a pair of late kills, and Hurlbert recorded a kill as NHTI pulled within 23-18, but Central Maine scored the final two points to close the match with a 25-18 third-set victory.
Kelly led NHTI with 10 kills and 12 digs, marking her sixth consecutive match with double-digit kills, while Williams finished with six kills and 14 digs. Hurlbert added three kills without an attacking error and nine digs.
Kowalski recorded a team-high 17 digs and three service aces, while de Souza Quina distributed 16 assists, collected 12 digs and finished with two solo blocks and two block assists. The Lynx totaled 71 digs and eight total blocks.
Esther de Souza Quina entered Wednesday's matchup after being named the USCAA Division II Specialist of the Week and YSCC Player of the Week for Week Three.
Central Maine was led offensively by Jasmine Cortinas, who recorded a match-high 15 kills, while Madison Cleland added 13. Gianna Cantu finished with 32 assists and 13 digs for the Mustangs.
UP NEXT
NHTI remains home Saturday, Sept. 26, hosting York County Community College at 11 a.m. at the Dr. Goldie Crocker Wellness Center. The matchup continues the Lynx's five-match homestand and returns NHTI to YSCC East action. The match will be streamed live on YSCCSportsNetwork.com.
