THROGGS NECK, NY – The Maritime College volleyball team continued its busy stretch of eight matches in 11 days by welcoming FDU-Florham to Riesenberg Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.  Maritime (2-11) was unable to come away with the win, however, as the Devils (8-9) earned a 25-17, 25-19, 25-19 victory.

FDU-Florham raced out to an 11-4 lead before the Privateers rallied back within four at 13-9.  After the Devils responded with a 10-2 run to increase their advantage to 23-11, a kill by Kelly Kuhn (Lansdale, PA) started a 4-0 Maritime spurt that trimmed the Privateers' deficit to 23-15. The Devils would eventually close out the set, though, 25-17.

In the second set, FDU-Florham again built an early cushion, 11-3.   The Devils extended their lead to 15-6 before Maritime used a 6-1 rally to get within four, 16-12.  It was still a four-point margin, 20-16, when FDU-Florham went on a 4-1 run to reach set point, and the Devils took the frame by a 25-19 count.

After the teams traded early runs in the third set, FDU-Florham rattled off six straight points to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 10-5 advantage.  With the Devils leading 23-15, Brooke Kirchner (Lawrence, NY) was credited with a kill to start a 4-0 Maritime rally.  FDU-Florham won the next two points, though, to finish off the set, 25-19, and the 3-0 sweep.

Celyna Custodio (Danbury, CT) had a match-high nine kills to go along with nine digs.  Victoria Cordero (Bronx, NY) registered 13 digs, as Maritime held a 46-44 edge in that category.  Kirchner, meanwhile, contributed 18 assists and seven digs for the Privateers.

Vanessa Freeman and Gabbie Hart let FDU-Florham with nine kills apiece.  Freeman also tallied eight digs.  Julia Hudson added eight digs, while Kacie Ros notched 15 assists and three service aces.  Gianna Buscarino recorded 14 assists for the Devils, who hit .167 (36 kills, 19 errors, 102 attempts) as a team.

On Monday, Maritime (1-5 Skyline) resumes its Skyline Conference schedule with a 7 p.m. visit to Merchant Marine (10-6, 7-1 Skyline).  It will be the first of three straight Skyline matches next week for the Privateers.