BROOKYLN, N.Y. – The Maritime volleyball team improved to 9-9 on the year sweeping St. Joseph's (Bklyn) in straight sets on Thursday night in a Skyline matchup at the Hill Center.
 
Senior outside hitter Gabrielle Kempski (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) had a game-high 14 kills on the match while senior Shannon Brady (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) added six kills along with 10 digs. Freshman setter Erika Kirchner (Meadowmere Park, N.Y./Lawrence) recorded a game-high 29 assists on the night.
 
The opening set began as a back and forth contest with both teams tied at 8. The Privateers went up 11-8 thanks to a kill by Kempski and two attack errors. St. Joseph's answered right back with a 5-0 run to go up 13-11. With the score knotted at 15, Maritime went on a 5-0 run of their own to give them a 20-15 lead. St. Joseph's made a small comeback but it was not enough as the Privateers won the first set 25-19.    
 
In the second set Maritime led 7-2 early thanks to kills from Kirchner, junior Meredith Hayes (Houston, Texas/St. Agnes Academy) and freshman Abby Steele (Crossville, Tenn./Stone Memorial). The Privateers would control the rest of the set and cruise to a 25-8 win.
 
The third set was a competitive one with the Maritime leading 6-5 to start. That was when the Privateers went on a 6-0 run with two aces from Kempski and two kills by Brady. St. Joseph's made a comeback and cut the lead to four but Maritime held them off for the 25-16 win. 
 
Maritime (9-9, 3-3 Skyline) will be back in action on Saturday, October 14th when the team visits Baruch for a tri-match along with Rutgers-Newark beginning at 11 a.m. at Arc Arena.
 
St. Joseph's (Bklyn) (4-7, 1-3 Skyline) will play tomorrow Friday, October 13th when they visit York starting at 7 p.m.