The Maritime College women's volleyball team battled two tough teams at a home tri-match Saturday afternoon, but fell to both Rutgers-Newark and Baruch College in three sets.

The Privateers opened the tri-match with the Scarlet Raiders and came out battling point-for-point with the non-conference foe. Meredith Hayes (Houston, Texas/St. Agnes Academy) and Abby Steele (Crossville, Tenn./Stone Memorial) were firing on all cylinders as they combined for five kills in the first 11 points won for Maritime. The Privateers took a brief lead at 14-13 after two errors from Rutgers-Newark, but the Scarlet Raiders responded and won six of the next seven points to take command of the first set. Maritime tried to make a run to get back into the set, but it was too late and they fell in the opening set 25-21.

The second set was controlled by Rutgers-Newark from the beginning and they easily won 25-13. The momentum continued to be in the Scarlet Raiders control as they jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the third set. However, the Privateers fought back thanks to strong serving  and mental errors from Rutgers Newark. Following big double block from Erika Kirchner (Meadowmere Park, N.Y./Lawrence) and Hayes on the outside, Maritime took a 15-13 lead mid-way through the third set. The Scarlet Raiders were able to make a late-set run once again and appeared to be on their way to a sweep as they led 24-21. The Privateers answered the call though and saved all three match points to tie the set at 24. Unfortunately the comeback wasn't enough to extend the match much longer as Rutgers Newark closed out the set, and the match 26-24.

The Privateers middle hitters, Hayes and Celyna Custodio () led the offensive effort with seven kills each. Hayes also chipped in four digs, two blocks and one service ace. Steele also turned in a solid performance with five kills on 16 attempts for a .313 hitting percentage and six digs. Kirchner added 19 assists and Abby Solomos (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai) led the defense with a team-high eight digs.

Hayes and Custodio continued to be the dominant weapons in the second match of the day for the Privateers as they finished with nine kills a piece against Baruch College. Kirchner also improved her numbers against the Bearcats as she tallied 25 assists and nine digs, just one short of a double-double.

Trailing 16-8 in the opening set, things were looking bleak for the Privateers, but they were able to re-group and put together a comeback behind strong defensive play and smart decision-making on offense. Back-to-back kills from Custodio cut the lead to 16-11, then two points later Kayla Steele (Howard Beach, N.Y./Construction) helped lead a five-point from the serving line as the lead was cut to 18-16. A few points later, Hayes and Custodio put together two more kills and Maritime had climbed all the way back to tie the game at 21. However, the Privateers couldn't find the pass they needed in serve receive and got aced in two of the final three points to drop the first set 25-21.

The momentum firmly shifted in favor of Baruch and Maritime was unable to string together the runs they needed in the final two sets as they fell 25-13 and 25-12.

The Privateers get back on the court next weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as they host the Maritime Classic against USMMA, Maine Maritime, and Massachusetts Maritime. To see the full schedule of next weekend's games, click here.