The Maritime College women's volleyball team capped off the Ninth Annual Maritime Classic in dramatic fashion as they took out Massachusetts Maritime 3-1 behind strong serving. The Privateers totaled 18 aces in the match to help them complete the comeback after dropping the opening set.
Maritime College came out strong in the opening set as
Abby Solomos (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai) got the match started with a four point service run. However, the Buccaneers responded with a run of their own and got right back into the match. The opening frame continued to have multiple lead changes until another four-point run from Massachusetts Maritime at 12-12 and they solidified their control of the set as they rolled to a 25-19 win.
The second set started out in a similar pattern as the Privateers took a quick advantage, but the Buccaneers were able to answer and keep it close. With Maritime trailing 11-13,
Meghan Eagleton (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) stepped up and help put together the run they needed to take back the lead. Eagleton recorded a kill and an ace in back-to-back points as she helped spur a four-point run. The set was still up for grabs at 17-16, but Maritime found its rhythm offensively and won five of the next six points to jump ahead 22-17. The Privateers held the lead and freshman
Rylee Malone (Southington, Conn./University High School of Science & Engineering) evened up the match with a kill to end the set at 25-21.
The Privateers had the momentum firmly on their side and came out firing in the third set as they took a 10-3 lead behind four aces. However, Massachusetts Maritime mounted a comeback once again and brought the match within two points at 14-12. A few points later, the turning point of the match happened as the Privateers came up with multiple diving digs in a long rally that was capped off by a
Celyna Custodio (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) kill on an overpass. The point returned all momentum to the Privateers side and they easily walked away with a 25-15 win in the crucial third set.
The Privateers continued to play with high energy into the third set and this time, never let the Buccaneers into the set. Maritime College ended the Ninth Annual Maritime Classic with a bang as they took out Massachusetts Maritime 25-12 in the final set.
The leading offensive weapon for the Privateers all season long,
Meredith Hayes (Houston, Texas/St. Agnes Academy), was unavailable in the match after an injury against USMMA, but the Houston, TX native picked up All-Tournament Team honors after a dominant performance against the Mariners.
Custodio, Eagleton, and
Abby Steele (Crossville, Tenn./Stone Memorial) turned in solid performances without Hayes, recording 11, 10, and nine kills, respectively. Sophomore setter
Erika Kirchner (Meadowmere Park, N.Y./Lawrence) dished out 27 assists, while Steele and Malone led the defensive effort with 12 and 10 digs, respectively. Sophomore libero Abigail Solomos was on fire behind the service line, recording a match-high seven aces while Eagleton was right behind her with six of her own.
The Privateers get back on the court Tuesday against Mount Saint Vincent in their Skyline Conference opener at 7 p.m. at Riesenberg Gymnasium.
