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Coach De Stefano Post Match Interview
 
        THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2014) – The Maritime women's volleyball team defeated visiting Medgar Evers College in straight sets Tuesday night in the Privateers' home opener at Riesenberg Hall, 25-16, 25-16, 25-15. Maritime moves to 1-2 on the season, while the Cougars fall to 0-1. First-year head coach Danielle De Stefano earned her first collegiate victory with the sweep.
 
        Freshman Shannon Brady (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) led the offense with 11.5 points, as she picked up a match-high nine kills. Sophomore Carly Lombardo (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) registered seven kills and six assists, while freshman Gabrielle Kempski (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) contributed five kills. Kempski and senior Charlotte Acklin (Lewes, Del./West Broward (Fla.)) both had successful nights serving as they recorded six and five aces, respectively. Acklin also led the way defensively with eight digs.
 
        Play was even in the early stages of the first set and Medgar Evers scored three straight points to take a 9-7 lead. However, Acklin went back to serve and the Privateers rallied off six straight volleys to go ahead, 13-9. Maritime extended the lead to 19-12 and kept the momentum despite dropping four of the next six points. The last four points of the set went to the Privateers and a ball handling error against the Cougars ended the scoring at 25-16.
 
        Medgar Evers came out strong in the second set, scoring the first nine points until a service error slowed their momentum. Maritime slowly chipped away at that lead and scored 13 of the next 17 points to tie the set at 13-13. An attack error cost the Privateers the lead, but they got the ball right back on a bad set on the next play. With the score knotted up at 14-apiece, Maritime picked up the next eight straight points to take a commanding 21-14 lead. They didn't look back, as an ace by senior Christine McCormack (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen) ended the set at the same score as the first, 25-16.
 
        In the third set, it was the Privateers that came out hot, building up a 9-2 lead early on. The Cougars came back with seven of the next eight to come within one, 10-9. The action was even from there until Maritime held a 17-14 towards the back end of the set. From there, the Privateers tallied eight of the next nine point to take the set on a kill by Brady that made it 25-15.
 
        For the Cougars, senior Kiwelewa Mlimwengu led the squad with eight kills and four aces. Junior AnnMarie Bemberry had a match-high 13 assists, while sophomore Kalifa Roberts registered a team-high seven digs.
 
        The Privateers return to action this Saturday, Sept. 6, when they travel to nearby Bronxville, N.Y. to take part in a tri-match hosted by Sarah Lawrence College. Maritime will take on Bard College at noon before a showdown with the host Gryphons at 4 p.m.