The University of Maine at Presque Isle Volleyball squad picked up right where they left off against UMaine Fort Kent, opening the 2026 season with a dominant three-set sweep over the Bengals on Friday afternoon at Wieden Hall.
Match: 3-0 Owls
The Owls wasted no time establishing control, jumping out to an early lead in the opening set. UMPI's offense stayed consistent throughout, while the Owls' serving game created problems for the Bengals. Presque Isle closed out the first set 25-13 to take an early 1-0 lead. Set two saw UMPI continue to control the match from start to finish. The Owls' defense limited Fort Kent's offensive opportunities, while UMPI continued to find success at the service line. Presque Isle pulled away to win the second set 25-22, putting the Bengals on the brink of a sweep. The Owls saved their best for last in the third set. UMPI took control early and never let Fort Kent find an answer, closing out the set 25-17 to complete the three-set sweep. With the victory, the Owls moved to 1-0 on the season and 1-0 against UMaine Fort Kent, continuing their strong start in the rivalry.
Top Performers:
Sophomore
Jade Anspach led the Owls offensively with seven kills, while
Rylie Kolkow and
Tiana Orffer each added five kills to help UMPI finish with 20 kills as a team.
The Owls' serving game was a major difference-maker, with
Maubi Mateo and
Evelyn Perkins each recording four aces. Kolkow added two more aces for UMPI, which finished the match with 13 total service aces compared to Fort Kent's three.
Evelyn Perkins also directed the Owls' offense with 16 assists, helping UMPI finish with 18 assists as a team. Defensively,
Tiana Orffer led the Owls with 15 digs, while
Maubi Mateo added 12 and Perkins contributed nine. As a team, UMPI recorded 51 digs compared to Fort Kent's 41. Anspach, Kolkow, and Perkins each added a block as the Owls held Fort Kent to a .010 hitting percentage for the match.
Next Up:
The Owls will hit the road for their next doubleheader on September 12th in Gorham, Maine. UMPI will take on Covenant College at 2:00 p.m. before facing the University of Southern Maine at 4:00 p.m.
After opening the season with a convincing sweep of the Bengals, the Owls will look to carry their momentum into their first road trip of the season.
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