Recap Courtesy of Bates Sports Information

LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates sophomore setter Tess Walther had nine of the Bobcats' 18 aces, to go with three kills and 17 assists, to lead the Bobcats to a 3-0 (25-9, 25-18, 25-17) non-conference volleyball victory over Maine Maritime Academy Wednesday night at Alumni Gym.

The visiting Mariners dropped to 5-5 while the host Bobcats rose above the .500 mark at 7-6.

Walther set the tone as Bates' first server of the night, serving seven straight times as Bates grabbed an early 8-2 lead. The Mariners called timeout when facing deficits of 12-3 and 23-7 in the set as Bates rolled to its first set victory, 25-9. Nicole Russell had three of her six kills in the match in the first set.

MMA's Melissa Lail had three of her five kills in the second set, while Bates' Mary Deneen countered with three of her six kills in the frame, as Bates seized a 2-0 lead. Russell and Brynn Wendel led the Bobcats with three kills apiece as Bates polished off the 3-0 victory by outscoring MMA 25-17.

Wendel had a match-high eight kills, while Laryssa Schepel and Kelsey Berry tied for the match lead with 12 digs apiece.

Lail and Ariel Knights led Maine Maritime with five kills apiece, with Lail adding a team-high 10 digs. Jennifer Dixon amassed 16 assists.

Maine Maritime next plays a pair of matches Saturday at Green Mountain College, taking on NAC opponents Castleton and Green Mountain.

Bates def. Maine Maritime 25-9,25-18,25-17

Maine Maritime (5-5) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Melissa Lail 5-2-1; Ariel Knights 5-0-0; Chantal Adderley 3-0-1; Betsy Trenckmann 3-1-1; Molly Marcotte 1-0-0; Jennifer Dixon 1-0-0; Sydeny Robertson 1-0-1; Totals 19-3-2.0. (Assists) - Jennifer Dixon 16. (Dig leaders) - Melissa Lail 10; Molly Marcotte 9

Bates (7-6) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Brynn Wendel 8-0-1; Nicole Russell 6-2-1; Mary Deneen 6-0-1; Eliza Pyne 4-2-2; Tess Walther 3-9-0; Kelsey Berry 3-1-0; Abby Leberman 2-0-1; Miranda Shapiro 1-0-0; Nicole Cueli 0-2-0; Laryssa Schepel 0-2-0; Totals 33-18-3.0. (Assists) - Tess Walther 17. (Dig leaders) - Kelsey Berry 12; Laryssa Schepel 12; Nicole Russell 8