Box Score
Photo Gallery
WATCH: Postgame Interviews (Smith, Pinzon & Coach Holmes)
 
KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Nov. 4, 2021) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's volleyball team downed rival Mount St. Vincent in straight sets (25-14, 25-8, 25-13) in the Skyline Championship Semifinals on Thursday night at the Liebertz Gymnasium. With the win, the Mariners improve to 21-3 on the season and advance to their second-straight Skyline Championship Match, while the Dolphins end the season at 16-12.
 
To view a photo gallery of the match, click here. Postgame interviews with junior Paige Smith (Virginia Beach, Va.), senior Brittney Pinzon (Fullerton, Calif.) and assistant coach Monica Holmes can be viewed at this link.
 
The start of the first set was extremely close, with the Dolphins actually getting out to an 8-5 lead after scoring six-consecutive points and riding the momentum from their raucous fans who followed them down from the Bronx. However, the equally loud Mariner fans helped turn things right around for USMMA, as they strung together five-straight points to take a 10-8 advantage.
 
The Mariners scored seven of the next eight points and forced CMSV to call a timeout, but it didn't help too much, as Merchant Marine picked right back up where it left off and finished off the set 25-14.
 
The second set was not very close at all. USMMA jumped out to a 7-2 lead and then, after a sideout by the Dolphins, scored nine-straight to go up 16-3. They never looked back and cruised to the 25-8 win.
 
The final set had two early bursts for the Mariners, as they got up to a 5-2 advantage and then 12-4. Mount St. Vincent made it a little interesting with four-straight to pull within just four points, however Merchant Marine was able to keep the visitors at bay the rest of the afternoon, as the Mariners' lead never dropped under five points the rest of the way and they claimed the match victory with a 25-13 set win.
 
Smith led all players on the night with 11 kills, including the last two of the match, while also picking up six digs and serving up a match-high three aces. Pinzon dished out 12 assists and added five digs, while sophomore Meredith Buchanan (Kathleen, Ga.) contributed eight kills on .353 hitting. Senior Taylor Gilbertson (Phoenix, Ariz.) chipped in with seven kills and tied for the match-high with classmate Shelby Bowman (Redmond, Wash.) with nine digs. Sophomore Amy Jones (Roscoe, Ill.) led all players on the night with three blocks (one solo and two assisted).
 
For the Dolphins, senior Rianna Rivera had a team-best five kills, while classmate Madison Gale led all players with 14 assists. Sophomore libero Isabella Garcia picked up a match-high 12 digs in the losing effort.
 
This Saturday night, Nov. 6, the top-seeded Mariners will host #2-seed Manhattanville (18-6) in a rematch of the 2019 Skyline Championship Match, but this time the Finals will be played in Kings Point. First serve against the Valiants is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Liebertz Gym. Live stats and a live video feed of the Skyline Finals will be available with links on the USMMA Women's Volleyball Schedule Page. To view the Skyline Conference's "Championship Central" page, follow this link.
 
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