THROGGS NECK, NY - The Maritime College women's volleyball team opened up Skyline Conference with a big five-set win against Purchase College on Monday night. The Privateers fought a resilient Panthers squad and won by scores of 23-25, 25-15, 25-18, 23-25, 15-13. 

Maritime came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as they jumped out to an 11-3 lead, and then extended it to a 19-8 advantage behind some strong serving. However, Purchase didn't give up and completely swung the momentum in their favor after winning eight of the next nine points. The Panthers went on to win the final seven points of the set and escape with a 25-23 first set victory.

Despite the disappointing start to the match, the Privateers bounced back in the second set after a 10-point run with Katie Solinsky (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme) at the service line. Solinsky picked up a kill out of the middle at 9-9 to begin the run, and then served out the next nine points to make it a 19-9 lead for Maritime. During the serving run, the Privateers picked up five kills and an ace. With the set firmly in their control, Erica Pagano (Lawrence, NY/Lawrence) put the set away with a kill from the right side at 24-15. The second set was the most efficient offensive set for the Privateers as they hit .308 as a team. Additionally, they held the Panthers to a -.069 hitting percentage. 

Maritime continued their strong play into the crucial third set, but Purchase refused to go away quietly and fought to tie the set at 14. However, strong play from the Privateers outside hitters, Abby Steele (Crossville, Tenn./Stone Memorial) and Meghan Eagleton (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham), helped Maritime take control of the set with a 22-18 lead. Junior setter Erika Kirchner (Meadowmere Park, N.Y./Lawrence) took it from there as she racked up back-to-back aces to make it a 24-18 advantage. Once again, Kirchner turned to Pagano to close out the set with a kill on the following point.

The Privateers were looking to close out the match in four sets as they took an early 12-5 lead, but once again the Panthers fought back and went on a huge run to tie the set at 19. Maritime responded and took the lead back, but Purchase was able to close out the set with a five-point run to force a fifth and deciding set.

Early mistakes by the Panthers in the fifth set allowed the Privateers to take a quick 7-3 lead. However, the just like every set before it, Purchase fought back and eventually took a 12-11 lead. After trading points to a 13-12 lead for the Panthers, Maritime's offense stepped up and tallied three straight kills to seal the 15-13 victory. Kirchner found Celyna Custodio (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) for two of the kills, including a massive attack out of the middle on match point.

Custodio led the offense with 14 kills, while Steele also reached double digits with 11. Pagano had the most efficient offensive performance with nine kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Eagleton also chipped in nine kills while Solinsky finished with six. Kirchner dished out a match-high 39 assists while Abby Solomos (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai) led the back line with 12 digs. Steele totaled a double-double on the day with 10 digs. Check out the post-game press conference and come back tomorrow for the highlights!