HACKETTSTOWN, NJ – On Sunday afternoon, the Maritime College volleyball team played its final non-conference match of the 2023 season.  Taking on Centenary for the first time since 2006, the Privateers (7-13) dropped a 25-13, 25-12, 26-24 decision to the Cyclones (9-6) at the John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center.

After Erica Pagano (Lawrence, NY) started the match with back-to-back service aces, Centenary scored eight of the next 10 points to go up 8-4.  The Privateers got back within two at 9-7, but the Cyclones responded with a 10-2 run to increase their lead to 19-9.  Maritime trimmed its deficit to 20-12 before Centenary ended the first set on a 5-1 spurt to wrap up a 25-13 win.

The second set was level at 6-6 when Centenary went on an 8-2 rally to take a 14-8 advantage.  A kill by Carolina Bersani (Bronx, NY), who was making her first appearance of the season after missing the Privateers' first 19 contests due to injury, brought Maritime within 17-12, but the Cyclones scored the final eight points of the set to earn a 25-12 win and go up 2-0 in the match.

In the third set, there were nine ties and four lead changes.  Centenary built an early 5-2 cushion before Maritime rallied to take an 11-8 lead on a kill by Samantha Hart (Brooklyn, NY).  With the score knotted at 18-18, Pagano smashed a kill to start a 6-1 rally that put the Privateers up 24-19.  However, the Cyclones fought off five set points, then had one of their own at 25-24.  Centenary's Poppy Skjonnemand capped the comeback with a kill, giving her team a 26-24 set win that clinched the 3-0 victory.

Pagano led Maritime with 10 kills on .400 hitting.  She added five digs and three aces.  Jessica Mele (Southold, NY) contributed five kills, and Victoria Cordero (Bronx, NY) posted a team-best seven digs.  Ashley Pavarini (Ossining, NY), meanwhile, distributed 14 assists for the Privateers, who hit a combined .134 (24 kills, 13 errors, 82 attempts).

As a team, Centenary hit .392 in the match, tallying 34 kills while committing just five errors in 74 attempts.  Skjonnemand recorded match-highs with 15 kills and nine digs, and Alyssa Bizzarro had 10 kills to go along with nine digs.  Vanessa Pagano handed out 14 assists, while Kim Stallworth finished with 11 assists, seven digs and four aces.

Maritime's final two matches of the season are both Skyline Conference tilts.  The Privateers (3-6 Skyline) visit Mount St. Vincent (8-9, 4-4 Skyline) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.