BC knocks off Black Bears

ORONO – The University of Maine volleyball team opened its season Friday night with a close, straight-sets loss to Boston College, falling 31-29, 30-28 and 30-27.

Leah Voss led the Black Bears with 16 kills and nine digs. Claire Poliquin had 11 kills and six digs. Cheryl Elliott provided 37 assists and five digs while Marina Ivankovic had eight digs and Carmen Gabriel blocked three shots.

Lauren Schwer topped the Eagles with 13 kills and 15 digs. Katie Anderson had nine kills and 18 digs. Jessica Brizzolara had 40 assists while Rachel Back recorded 10 kills and three blocks.

Field hockey

Iowa 2, Maine 0

At Morse Field at Orono, Iowa scored once in each half en route to spoiling Maine’s opener.

Iowa, 2-0, got on the board barely seven minutes into the game when Lindsay Miller scored on a penalty corner with assists from Maria Merluzzi and Jessica Zosky. Miller picked up an assist on Iowa’s second goal, which came off Patricia Gillen’s penalty corner with 18:58 left in the game. Lauren Edwards picked up the other Iowa assist and goalie Saleema Rogers made three saves on 11 Maine shots.

Maine’s best scoring chances came when junior Karyn Magno’s potential game-tying shot bounced off the left post with 14:20 left in the first half. In the second half, freshman Amie Dubois’ shot right in front of the cage was blocked on a spectacular save by Iowa defender Jessica Zosky.

Maine goalie Jaye Lance made three saves on 11 shots.