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Sophomore setter Carmen Gabriel said the wins would come once the University of Maine volleyball team lived up to its potential. After going undefeated this weekend, that potential is finally shining through for the Black Bears.
The UMaine squad swept both of their opponents at a tournament hosted by Sacred Heart University on Saturday and Sunday, increasing its record to 6-11.
The Black Bears came alive when they faced the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson University Sunday at noon in Fairfield, Conn. With scores of 30-11, 30-26 and 30-21 the Black Bears held Farleigh Dickinson to an attack percentage of .109, allowing the Knights only 29 kills, while UMaine achieved a team total of 48 kills.
Freshman outside hitter Kaili Jordan again led her team with 17 kills, six digs and an attack percentage of .500. Freshman outside hitter Leah Guidinger added to the team’s outstanding performance with 15 kills, three aces and 11 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Lori Maloney recorded seven assists, two serving aces and eight digs. The three outside hitters were assisted by Gabriel, who racked up 32 assists, 10 kills, five digs and two aces.
UMaine had only 12 errors in the match and registered an attack percentage of .500.
“We’re just so close. We are doing a lot of things the right way. We are a good team, and it’s just a matter of time,” UMaine head coach Sue Medley said before the team boarded the bus Friday.
The team leapt forward this weekend as they began the longest winning streak they’ve had for four weeks.
UMaine defeated Sacred Heart on Saturday night with a sizeable lead in all three games (30-15, 30-17, 30-14).
Jordan helped defeat the Pioneers with a team high 10 kills and three serving aces. Guidinger also contributed with eight kills and an attack percentage of .286. Gabriel, a co-captain, added 23 assists in the match, and achieved a remarkable .889 attack percentage with eight kills in nine attacks. Sophomore middle blocker and Maine native Brittany Howe totaled five kills in eight attacks for an attack percentage of .625, and managed one solo block along with three assisted blocks. The Black Bears tallied 38 kills and 10 serving aces in the match, and finished the evening with an attack percentage of .296.
The Black Bears have only one match left before hosting Albany University for their first conference match of the season. UMaine travels to Boston College Wednesday, Oct. 9 for a match with the Golden Eagles.
