THROGGS NECK, NY – Behind Jessica Mele's (Southold, NY) 18 kills, nine of which came in the third set, the Maritime College volleyball team (4-9, 2-3 Skyline) earned a 25-18, 25-23, 25-20 win over Old Westbury (1-12, 0-4 Skyline) at Riesenberg Gymnasium on Wednesday night.  The Privateers combined for 36 kills in the victory, which snapped their eight-match losing streak.

Mele finished with a .350 hitting percentage, committing just four errors in 40 attempts.  She added six digs.  Erica Pagano (Lawrence, NY) had six kills to go along with a match-high 13 digs.  Ashley Pavarini (Ossining, NY) handed out 25 assists, while Victoria Cordero (Bronx, NY) tallied six assists, six digs and four service aces.  Samantha Hart (Brooklyn, NY) contributed three blocks, two of which were solo stuffs, and three kills on .750 hitting.  As a team, Maritime hit .143 (36-20-112).

Old Westbury opened the match by scoring four of the first five points before the Privateers rallied to take a 9-7 lead on back-to-back aces by Pavarini.  After the Panthers went back in front, 12-11, Maritime responded with an 11-5 spurt to go up 23-16.  Mele then smashed consecutive kills to wrap up the first set, 25-18.

In the second set, there were 13 ties and nine lead changes.  The teams traded scoring runs, with the Panthers jumping out to a 5-2 lead, only to see the Privateers counter with a 9-3 rally.  Old Westbury regained the lead, 22-18, before Maritime went on a 5-0 run to take a 23-22 advantage.  After the Panthers took the next point to tie the score again, the Privateers claimed the next two, giving them a 25-23 set win.

The Panthers again built an early cushion in the third set, pulling ahead 6-3.  However, a Mele kill sparked a 9-0 spurt that gave Maritime a 12-6 lead.  Old Westbury got back within one at 17-16 before the Privateers rattled off three straight points to extend the margin to four, 20-16.    Mele's 17^th and 18^th kills of the night closed out the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-0.

Stephanie Maser led the Panthers with nine kills.  Geanelle Sam recorded a double-double with 15 assists and 12 digs, and Jonangeliz Alvarez Rodriguez notched eight digs, as Old Westbury held a 45-41 edge in that category.

Maritime visits York (1-5) at 6 p.m. on Thursday for its third match in four nights.  It will be the second meeting of the season between the Privateers and Cardinals.  Maritime opened its 2023 campaign by sweeping York at Riesenberg Gymnasium on Sept. 6.