Laura Huselton tallied double figures in kills and digs as the Skyhawks took three straight sets to beat UMass Lowell.

Huselton, Johnson lead comeback to pick up conference win

LOWELL, Mass. (October 6, 2010) – Stonehill College remained unbeaten in Northeast-10 competition with a 3-1 (15-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-16) victory over UMass Lowell in women’s volleyball action on Wednesday.

After dropping the first set by ten points, Stonehill rallied to take the next three sets and the win. Junior Laura Huselton (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) posted a double-double with a team-high 11 kills and 14 digs, senior Erin Johnson (Centerville, Mass./Barnstable) put down 10 kills, and senior Justine Thompson (Merrimack, N.H./Bishop Guertin) collected 10 digs for the Skyhawks.

Stonehill never trailed in the second set, at one point opening up an 18-9 lead on a seven-point run behind two kills apiece from Huselton and Johnson. The River Hawks pulled back to within two points late in the game, but Huselton held them off with two late kills, finishing with five in the set.

The Skyhawks wrapped up the third set by an identical 25-22 score, and rallied back from an early deficit in the fourth set after a string of errors by UMass Lowell. Johnson put down five kills in the final set to lead the offensive effort, and senior Anna Berthiaume (Somersworth, N.H./Somersworth) added three late in the game.

UMass Lowell got game highs of 18 kills from senior Sarah Coscia (Pittsfield, Mass./Pittsfield) and 25 digs from freshman Carolyn Eddy (Dracut, Mass./Central Catholic), but were dealt their first home loss of the season.

Stonehill (6-7, 4-0 NE-10) will next host a pair of “Dig Pink” matches to raise funds for breast cancer research and treatment, taking on Assumption College on October 8 at 7 p.m. and Saint Michael’s College on October 9 at 1 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to contribute to the Side-Out Foundation, established in 2004 to promote breast cancer awareness, education, and fundraising through volleyball.