BRONX, NY – The Maritime College volleyball team (3-1) notched a 25-15, 25-11, 25-12 triumph over host Lehman (1-3) at the Lehman College APEX on Tuesday night. It was the Privateers' second straight win, marking the first time since Oct. 12-14, 2021 that Maritime has posted back-to-back victories.
Maritime never trailed in the match. The Privateers raced out to a 12-4 advantage in the first set before the Lightning used a 4-0 run to pull within 12-8. Maritime still led by four, 16-12, when the Privateers went on a 4-0 spurt to bring the margin back to eight points, 20-12. After three straight Lehman points, a
Jessica Mele (Southold, NY) kill gave the serve back to Maritime, and
Samantha Hart (Brooklyn, NY) closed off the 25-15 set win with three consecutive service aces.
That momentum carried into the second set, as Maritime quickly built a 5-0 cushion. The Privateers extended their lead to 8-2 before Lehman rattled off four straight points to get within two, 8-6.
Diana Rodriguez (Queens, NY) followed with a kill, however, to start a set-ending 17-5 Maritime rally. The Privateers took the set by a 25-11 count to go ahead 2-0 in the match.
In the third set, Maritime scored eight of the first nine points. Lehman eventually pulled within three at 11-8, but would get no closer. The Privateers ended the match on a 14-4 spurt, getting four successive aces from Mele to wrap up the set, 25-12, and the 3-0 sweep.
Mele finished with 16 kills on .424 hitting to go along with her five aces and six digs.
Victoria Cordero (Bronx, NY) added five aces, as Maritime tallied 19 as a team.
Ashley Pavarini (Ossining, NY) had four aces while also notching a double-double with 10 assists and 10 digs. The Privateers hit a combined .208 (28 kills, 12 errors, 77 attempts) and outdug the Lightning 32-28.
For Lehman, Sahiam Mena led the way with four kills and five assists. She also registered five digs. Melissa Santos, meanwhile, paced the Lightning with eight digs.
After playing three straight away from home, the Privateers will return to Riesenberg Gymnasium on Thursday night. Maritime takes on CCNY (2-3) in a 7 p.m. matchup.
