KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Oct. 24, 2025) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's volleyball team capped Senior Night in spectacular fashion on Thursday, outlasting Sarah Lawrence in a five-set battle, 3–2 (27–29, 25–16, 25–17, 23–25, 17–15), in front of a raucous Liebertz Gymnasium crowd. With their backs against the wall in the deciding set, the Mariners stormed back with an 8–2 run to close out the match and send senior libero Stephanie Schatzman (Virginia Beach, Va.) and student-assistant coach Jackson Tolle off with an unforgettable win.
 
Match Link

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Sofia Dohr
• Senior Night Ceremony Photo Gallery

Freshman Carly Soboloski (Peoria, Ariz.) led the Mariners with a team-high 19 kills while hitting .289, adding nine digs, two blocks, and an ace. Junior Erin Stillinger (Keller, Texas) posted 17 kills and a career-high 15 digs for her eighth double-double of the season, while sophomore Sydney Douglas (Herndon, Va.) had a double-double of her own with 15 kills and 11 digs to go along with three aces.
 
Sophomore Maddie Mayer (Centennial, Colo.) added seven kills, two aces, and six blocks, and classmate Jenny Dyke (Grand Rapids, Mich.) chipped in three kills and six blocks, while freshman Sofia Dohr (Austerlitz, N.Y.) contributed five kills and two blocks.
 
Freshman setter Emma Borlie (Baltimore, Md.) dished out 32 assists, while junior Alexa Tipps (Los Angeles, Calif.) added 16 helpers. Schatzman anchored the defense with a match-high 26 digs and two service aces in her final home appearance.
 
Set 1 – Sarah Lawrence 29, USMMA 27: The Mariners raced out to a 5–0 start behind kills from Soboloski and Stillinger and a Mayer ace, but Sarah Lawrence fought back from a late deficit to steal the opening frame in extra points, 29–27.
 
Set 2 – USMMA 25, Sarah Lawrence 16: Merchant Marine responded immediately, taking control behind steady play from Borlie and Douglas. Soboloski, Stillinger, and Mayer combined for 13 kills in the set, and the Mariners' defense limited Sarah Lawrence to just a .143 hitting percentage to even the match at one set apiece.
 
Set 3 – USMMA 25, Sarah Lawrence 17: The third belonged to USMMA from the outset. A 7–1 surge sparked by two Stillinger kills and a Mayer ace put the Mariners in command early. Dyke and Douglas combined for several key blocks, and Soboloski capped the frame with a kill to give USMMA the 2–1 match lead.
 
Set 4 – Sarah Lawrence 25, USMMA 23: Sarah Lawrence battled back in a tight fourth set, using a strong early run to build a cushion. USMMA cut the deficit to 22–21 after late kills from Stillinger and Douglas, but the Gryphons held off the charge to force a decisive fifth.
 
Set 5 – USMMA 17, Sarah Lawrence 15: In a dramatic final set, the Mariners trailed 13–9 before erupting for an 8–2 finishing run that brought the crowd to its feet. Soboloski and Stillinger delivered clutch kills during the surge, while Mayer and Dyke teamed for key blocks at the net. With the score tied at 15–15, Mayer put USMMA ahead on a kill, and Stillinger sealed the Senior Night victory on match point off a perfect set from Borlie.
 
The Mariners (13–9, 7–2 Skyline) will close out the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 1, when they travel to Old Westbury. First serve is scheduled for noon.
 
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