THROGGS NECK, NY – On Tuesday night, the Maritime College volleyball team took on Brooklyn in its third straight home match to begin the season.  The Privateers (0-3) had two set points in the second set, but were unable to capitalize, as the Bulldogs (1-0) came away with a 25-21, 26-24, 25-13 victory at Riesenberg Gymnasium.

After Brooklyn raced out to an early 7-3 lead in the first set, Maritime rattled off three straight points to get within one, 7-6.  The Bulldogs regained a six-point edge at 13-7, but the Privateers again battled back to level the score, 13-13.  It was still deadlocked at 18-18 when Brooklyn used a 6-0 rally to reach set point.  Maritime got three consecutive kills from Ashley Pavarini (Ossining, NY), Karelys Rolon (Hudson, FL) and Samantha Hart (Brooklyn, NY) before the Bulldogs closed out the opening frame, 25-21.

In the second set, there were 10 ties and six lead changes.  Maritime jumped in front 8-4, then Brooklyn went on a 7-1 run to open up an 11-9 advantage.  After the Privateers regained the lead, 14-13, the Bulldogs countered with seven of the next eight points to build a 20-15 cushion.  Pavarini smashed a kill on the next point, though, to start a 9-2 Maritime rally that brought the Privateers to set point at 24-22.  Brooklyn scored the final four points of the set, however, to claim a 26-24 win and go up 2-0 in the match.

The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the third set.  Brooklyn opened the set with 10 consecutive points and had a 17-3 lead before Maritime claimed nine of the next 12 points to get within 20-12.  The Privateers would get no closer, though, as the Bulldogs wrapped up the 3-0 victory with a 25-13 set win.  Brooklyn hit an impressive .320 (11 kills, three errors, 25 attempts) in the third set.

Pavarini nearly had a double-double for the Privateers, finishing with nine kills and 11 assists.  She also recorded two service aces.  Mikaela Thiel (Fort Morgan, CO), meanwhile, distributed 10 assists.  Rolon tallied nine kills and tied Victoria Cordero (Bronx, NY) for the match-high with 17 digs.  As a team, Maritime outdug Brooklyn 60-50.

For the Bulldogs, Aleah Rafat led the way with 10 kills on .333 hitting.  She added three aces.  Sydney Gdanski contributed seven kills, while Amira Mulic had 12 assists, seven digs and three aces.  Rihanna Marrero handed out eight assists to go along with seven digs, and Ruti Joshi recorded a team-best 11 digs for Brooklyn, which hit a combined .156 (32-15-109).

Maritime now has a week off before returning to action.  The Privateers hit the road for the first time in 2024 next Tuesday, when they visit Baruch (1-1) at 6 p.m.