KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Oct. 1, 2024) – USMMA volleyball battled their way to a thrilling four-set win against the SUNY Maritime Privateers, 25-12, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, inside a rowdy Liebertz Gymnasium. The win improves the Mariners' record to 8-4 (1-0 Skyline), while the Privateers fall to 4-11 (1-1 Skyline) with the setback.
 
Match Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Sophomore Erin Stillinger 

Sophomore Erin Stillinger (Keller, Texas) paced all players in the match with 15 kills on 29 swings (.483), with freshman Sydney Douglas (Herndon, Va.) finishing just behind her with 10 kills, and senior Virginia Robert (Lynchburg, Va.) had seven more. Sophomore Alexa Tipps (Palmdale, Calif.) dished out 18 assists, and junior Stephanie Schatzman (Virginia Beach, Va.) dug out 21 attempts.
 
KP and Maritime opened the first set trading points to 4-4, before the Merchant Marine offense clicked into gear. Tony Nocera's team scored 10 of the next 11 points, quickly running their lead to 14-5. The Privateers never got into a groove, as KP won the first set handily, 25-12. Erin Stillinger was responsible for four kills in that first set, playing in her first match of the season.
 
The second set also began with a lengthy back-and-forth, to 9-9 with neither side leading by more than two points, Merchant Marine went on a 6-2 run to open up a 15-10 edge, then later an 18-13 lead. However, the Privateers closed the set on fire, sprinting to the finish line with a 12-6 run, to claim the second set 25-23.
 
Perhaps buoyed by the bitter finish to the prior set, Merchant Marine opened the third stanza by racing out to a 10-1 lead. SUNY Maritime dialed it in and kept the deficit around 10 points, The Privateers cut the lead down to four points eventually, but KP won the third set 25-20. Sydney Douglas notched three kills in the set, with Virginia Robert adding two more of her own.
 
Set four was again highly competitive through the first chunk of action, as both sides battled back and forth to 11-11. Merchant Marine then rattled off a 7-2 run to separate from Maritime at 18-13. That run was ultimately the last straw for the Privateers, as KP won the fourth and final set 25-17.
 
Next up for USMMA, they host Manhattanville on Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Liebertz Gymnasium. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
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