THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Maritime volleyball team opened the season with a straight sets victory over the York (NY) Cardinals on Tuesday night inside Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium.
 
Junior Meredith Hayes (Houston, Texas/St. Agnes Academy) led the offensive attack with 12 kills on the day in 13 attempts for a .923 hitting percentage. Senior Shannon Brady (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) and classmate Rachel Rothstein (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville) both had eight service aces, while fellow senior Gabrielle Kempski (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) had seven aces of her own.
 
Freshman Erika Kirchner (Meadowmere Park, N.Y./Lawrence) had 15 assists, while classmate Abby Steele (Crossville, Tenn./Stone Memorial) dished out seven assists on the day and added three digs and three kills. Defensively Rothstein led with seven digs, while Brady had six and Kempski had five on the match.
 
Maritime won the opening set by a 25-12 score, before winning the second set 25-9 and the third by a 25-14.
 
In the opening set Maritime held a 16-11 lead before rattling off eight straight points behind the serving of Brady. After one York point, the Privateers finished off the set with a kill from Kempski.
 
The Privateers held a 13-6 advantage in the second set before a set-high seven-straight points put the stanza out of reach for the Cardinals as Rothstein went on a roll with three consecutive service aces. Maritime finished off the set with five unanswered points as Kircher notched an ace during her service.
 
The third set was even through the first 10 points, and eventually York held a 10-9 lead. The Privateers had their longest rally of the night with 11 straight points to put the match out of reach as it was once again the service of Rothstein leading the way. The Privateers closed things out with the last three points including the final point on a kill from Kempski to send the crowd home happy.
 
Maritime (1-0) will return home to Riesenberg Hall Gymnasium on Thursday evening as the team plays host to the Lehman Lightning at 7 p.m.
 
York (0-3) travels to New Jersey City University on Thursday evening for a 7 p.m. start against the Gothic Knights.