Box Score

THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Maritime women's volleyball team dropped its Skyline Conference opener on Saturday afternoon in straight sets to the Sage Gators. The Gators won the match by the set scores of 25-6, 25-6, 25-22.

Maritime was led by freshman Shannon Brady (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) with eight kills on the afternoon, sophomore Carly Lombardo (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) had a team-best 10 assists. Senior Christine McCormack (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen) was the team's leader defensively with five saves on the afternoon.

The Privateers took the early 1-0 lead in the opening set on a service error by the Gators. Sage went on to outscore Maritime by a 25-5 margin through the remainder of the set for a 25-6 score. Sage repeated its score with a 25-6 victory in the second set and looked to end the match in straight sets with the match heading to the third.

In the early going of the third set, both teams exchanged the first three points of the set before Sage took a 4-1 advantage. Brady put down a kill followed by a service ace from senior Charlotte Acklin (Lewes, Del./West Broward (Fla.)) to pull the Privateers back within a 6-5 score.

Maritime did not allow Sage to pull away by more than seven points as the Privateers fought back continuously in the stanza. The Privateers put together a strong rally with Lombardo picking up a solo block, followed by freshman Gabrielle Kempski (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) rattling off a pair of service aces, then a few more points for the Privateers to pull back within two at 17-15.

The Privateers evened up the third set at 19 after an attacking error by the Gators, forcing Sage to call a timeout in attempts to regroup. Sage answered back with three points, followed by Brady and Lombardo picking up kills to again pull Maritime back within one at 22-21. Sage rattled off a 3-1 run in the final few plays to cap off the victory.

As a team Maritime finished with 17 kills, with 15 assists and 18 digs. The Privateers also had three service aces with two from Kempski and one from Acklin. Sage finished the contest with 38 kills and 35 assists, while picking up 37 digs. The Gators also finished with five service aces.

Maritime (6-7, 0-1 Skyline) will look to regroup when the team travels to take on Brooklyn at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sage (16-4, 3-0 Skyline) in attempts to extend its 13-match winning streak when the Gators take on Bard on October 8 at 7 p.m