The New Hampshire

Issue date: 11/7/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Brent Doscher Sarah Rehn had a career-high 31 kills on Sunday.

If the opponents of the UNH Wildcats volleyball team are learning one thing this season, it is that the longer they are allowed to hang around, the harder they are to beat. The lesson was repeated twice last weekend, as the Wildcats beat conference foes Hartford and Maine both by scores of 3-2.

The wins keep UNH in contention for a spot in the America East Championship, putting them in a three-way tie for the third spot with UMBC and Stony Brook going into the final weekend of the season.

With three teams battling for two spots, the odd-man-out will probably be the loser of the UMBC/UNH in Lundholm Gymnasium next Sunday, the final day of the season and final home match for UNH's seniors.

But before the 'Cats worried about next weekend, they had to survive this one. On Friday, the team traveled to Connecticut to meet the Hawks of Hartford (8-19, 0-11 AE). While the conference basement-dwelling Hawks were able to keep the game close at times, junior outside hitter Emmy Blouin and senior captain Sarah Rehn once again led the team to victory, registering 23 kills and 16 digs, respectively. The final game scores were 28-30, 30-15, 24-30, 30-28 and 15-11.

On Sunday, UNH returned to Durham to face school rival Maine. The Black Bears came into the match tied with UNH for the fifth spot in the America East, and the loser of the match would have their tournament chances taken out of their hands and have to depend on the collapse of the teams ahead of them.

Like so many contests between the two schools, intensity and emotions were high and both squads played at the top of their games.

When the schools last met in September, Maine was able to steal a 3-0 away from the 'Cats, who had trouble finishing off their opponents. It would be Maine that had trouble closing on Sunday, however.

After winning Game 1 by a score of 30-26, Maine took an early and sizable lead in Game 2, leading most of the game by six or seven points. However, UNH stormed back, recording 19 kills, 15 of which came from Blouin and Rehn. Winning the game 30-28, the 'Cats left the crowd on their feet going into the intermission.

UNH played well in Game 3, recording a .375 hitting percentage (the match high for either team), but had trouble with Maine's serves, losing 30-27.

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