NEWARK, N.J. – The Maritime Volleyball team fell in a pair of non-conference matches on Saturday afternoon against the Baruch Bearcats, and the Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders from the Golden Dome Arena.
 
The Privateers dropped the opening match to the Bearcats in straight sets by the scores of 25-12, 25-21, and 25-21. Later in the day, Maritime was swept by host Rutgers-Newark by 26-24, 25-9, and 25-15 scores.
 
On the day, junior Shannon Brady (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) led Maritime with 14 kills, followed by 13 from sophomore Meredith Hayes (Houston, Texas/St. Agnes Academy). Senior Carly Lombardo (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) added nine on the afternoon as well. Hayes led Maritime with four service aces through the six sets, while Lombardo and senior Erika Bailey (Newark Valley, N.Y./Tioga Central) each added a pair of aces apiece.
 
Bailey also led the team with 16 digs, while Brady and Lombardo were right behind with 15 each. Hayes and freshman Sheila Flaherty (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) had four blocks to lead the way for Maritime with Bailey adding three on the afternoon.
 
Bailey on the afternoon picked up 38 assists to help her achieve a career milestone, as she recorded her 2,000th career assist in her four-year total. Her 38 on Saturday gave her a senior year total of 418, and a two-year Maritime total of 1,067, which coupled with her 954 assists at Morrisville during her freshman and sophomore seasons, give her a career total of 2,021.
 
In the opening match of the day, Maritime dropped the decision to the Baruch Bearcats. The Privateers fell behind early and were never able to recover as Baruch closed out the set on a strong 7-1 rally.
 
The Privateers opened the second set with a quick 4-2 lead, but the Bearcats were able to pull back into the match at six points apiece. Maritime continued to extend a minor lead, but Baruch was constantly coming back and once again tied the score at 19. The Bearcats used their momentum to finish off the set with a 6-2 rally to take the set by a score of 25-21.
 
The third set began with three-straight points for the Privateers with a service ace from Bailey, a kill from Lombardo and a kill from sophomore Isabella Kent (Narrowsburg, N.Y./Sullivan West). Maritime worked out an 8-3 lead as Hayes collected a service ace to put the Privateers ahead by five. Baruch battled back and tied the set at 13 before Maritime called a timeout.
 
Out of the brief break, Hayes collected a kill to put Maritime ahead, followed by two-straight from Baruch to give the Bearcats a one-point edge. The Privateers responded with two of their own as Flaherty collected a kill to make the score 16-15. Baruch took control of the set with six unanswered points before closing out the sweep with a 25-21 score.
 
In the nightcap, Maritime squared off with host Rutgers-Newark and opened the match with a thrilling 26-24 loss to the host Scarlet Raiders. Maritime trailed by a 1-0 early deficit, but the Privateers stormed back with three straight to take an early lead and added on to make it 7-4.
 
Ahead by a 13-8 score, Rutgers-Newark pulled to within one with four straight. Maritime then added four more points to move ahead 18-13. The Privateers led by a 23-19 score, but the Scarlet Raiders took control late and emerged with the 26-24 win in the opening set.
 
In the second set, Rutgers-Newark controlled throughout taking an 11-1 lead to start things off. The Scarlet Raiders flexed their muscles and coasted to the 25-9 set win to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
 
The third set was similar as Rutgers-Newark took a 6-2 lead before Maritime trimmed it to two at 6-4. The Privateers were able to tie the match at nine, and then again at 12, but seven-straight from the Scarlet Raiders gave them back control. Rutgers-Newark took the set by a 24-15 score to clinch the match.
 
Maritime (8-9, 2-2 Skyline) will play again on Monday evening, when the Privateers travel to Brooklyn, N.Y. to take on the Medgar Evers Cougars with match-time slated for 7:00 p.m.
 
Baruch (7-13, 3-1 CUNYAC) will host Montclair State on Thursday from ARC Arena at 6 p.m. Rutgers-Newark (9-7, 1-2 NJAC) will travel to take on Rutgers-Camden in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.