BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – The Maritime Volleyball Team wrapped up the 2016 Maritime Classic as the Privateers split action against Maine Maritime and host Mass. Maritime from the Clean Harbors Center.
 
In the morning session, the Privateers took the opening set from Maine Maritime, but fell in the next three as the Mariners won by a 3-1 score. In the afternoon, the Privateers battled the host Buccaneers and swept past them in straight sets by the scores of 25-22, 25-19, and 25-19.
 
Senior Carly Lombardo (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) led Maritime with 21 kills on the day, including 14 in the win over Mass. Maritime. Junior Shannon Brady (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) had 15 kills, while sophomore Meredith Hayes (Houston, Texas/St. Agnes Academy) picked up 14 kills. Freshman Sheila Flaherty (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) was also in double-figures with 10 kills in the two matches.
 
Lombardo also had three service aces in each contest for a day-total of six, while also leading Maritime with 22 digs on the afternoon. Senior Erika Bailey (Newark Valley, N.Y./Tioga Central) had 34 helpers against Mass. Maritime, coupled with her 15 earlier in the day for a two-match total of 49.
 
Against Maine Maritime, the Privateers won the opening set by a 25-22 score, before dropping the next three 25-8, 25-17, and 25-15.
 
The Mariners opened up a 4-2 lead in the first set, but the Privateers rattled off seven unanswered points to take a 9-4 lead. Maine Maritime tied the set at 11 then took a one-point lead at 12-11, which expanded to a two-point lead at 17-15.
 
Maritime tied the match at 17 before Flaherty and Lombardo added back-to-back kills to put the Privateers back on top. Maine Maritime was able to cut the lead down to one on four more occasions through the remainder of the set, but the Privateers finished it off for the 25-22 win with two final points.
 
Maine Maritime took control of the second set early and did not turn back to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-8 win. In the third set, the Mariners took another early lead, which the Privateers tied at three. After taking a 5-3 lead, Maine Maritime did not relinquish the lead through the remainder of the set to take a 2-1 advantage in the match.
 
In the fourth set, Maine Maritime began with an 8-1 advantage. Maritime scored the next three points, but the Mariners stormed ahead, 16-6 before closing out the set by a 25-15 score to seal the victory.
 
Against Mass. Maritime, the Privateers returned to form and picked up the win against the Buccaneers in straight sets.
 
With the opening set tied at five, Mass. Maritime scored the next six points to take an 11-5 advantage. After a timeout by the Maritime, the Privateers trimmed the deficit to 13-10. The Buccaneers continued to hold the Privateers back by taking a 20-15 lead.
 
Maritime put together one of their strongest rallies of the season with nine unanswered points highlighted by three kills from Lombardo and a pair from Hayes to take a 24-20 lead. After two points from the Buccaneers, a service error by Mass. Maritime gave the Privateers the set win.
 
In the second set, Maritime took a 16-7 lead in the early stages of the stanza. Mass. Maritime rallied for nine-straight to even the score at 16 apiece. The Privateers put together another strong run to take the set by a 25-19 score.
 
Mass. Maritime took an early 9-2 lead in the third set, but the Privateers played the comeback card again and tied it up at 12. From that point, Maritime outscored the Buccaneers by a 13-7 margin to pick up their first win of the weekend in straight sets.
 
Maritime (5-5, 0-1 Skyline) will next play on Wednesday, when Maritime takes on Yeshiva in Skyline Conference competition. The match will be played at the ARC Arena on the Baruch College campus in Manhattan with game time slated for 7 p.m.
 
Maine Maritime (7-3) will travel to Colby for a tri-match next Saturday. Mass. Maritime (1-10) will host Becker on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. from the Clean Harbors Center.