THROGGS NECK, NY – On Wednesday night, the Maritime College volleyball team began its 2023 season by hosting York.  After taking the first two sets, the Privateers (1-0) closed the third set on a 20-1 run to wrap up a 25-16, 25-14, 25-4 victory over the Cardinals (0-1) at Riesenberg Gymnasium.  The win, Maritime's first in its season opener since 2019, came in John O'Donoghue's first match as head coach.

Maritime scored the first two points of the match and quickly opened up a 7-1 advantage.  After York pulled within 11-9, a Jessica Mele (Southold, NY) kill started a 4-0 run that brought the Privateers' lead back to six points at 15-9.  The Cardinals again trimmed the deficit to two at 15-13 before Maritime went on a 10-3 rally, finishing off the 25-16 set win on a kill by Ashley Pavarini (Ossining, NY).

York rattled off two straight points to start the second set, but the Privateers responded with a 7-1 spurt to go up 7-3.  Back-to-back Olivia Banach (Gurnee, IL) service aces extended the cushion to 14-7.  An ace by Victoria Cordero (Bronx, NY) made it 20-10, and Maritime took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-14 set win.

The Privateers then dominated the third set.  Maritime was leading 4-3 when Pavarini smacked a kill to start a 7-0 run.  After York broke the string, Pavarini served the final 13 points of the match.  The Privateers capped the sweep with a 25-4 triumph, their most decisive set win since Oct. 24, 2019 against Yeshvia.

Mele paced Maritime with six kills to go along with five aces and seven digs.  Pavarini notched five kills, 10 assists and three aces, and Erica Pagano (Lawrence, NY) distributed 10 assists of her own.  Banach served four of the Privateers' 18 total aces.  As a team, Maritime hit .200 (20 kills, 11 errors, 45 attempts) in the match.

For the Cardinals, Shamonie Miller led the way with four kills.  Cherub Autar tallied four assists and four digs, while Alicia Gumbs recorded three aces.

Maritime is back in action on Friday with a 6 p.m. matchup at John Jay (1-1).  It will be the first of three straight road matches for Maritime.