TROGGS NECK, N.Y. – Volleyball split their matches on Sunday at the Fifth Annual Maritime Classic. The Mariners fell to Merchant Marine this morning 3-0 but defeated Mass. Maritime 3-0 in their latter match.  

Merchant Marine 3 - Maine Maritime 0 (25-9, 25-12, 25-19) 

The two teams went back and forth to start 4-4 but Merchant Marine built a lead and never looked back winning the first set 25-9. Merchant Marine scored eight straight points to defeat Maine Maritime 25-12 in the second set. The Mariners battled hard in the third set, but fell 25-19 after Merchant Marine built a six-point lead and never turned back.

Jess Menges (Old Forge, N.Y.) grabbed 10 digs and two kills while Sydney Robertson (Barnstead, N.H.) recorded a team-high seven kills, and seven digs and Gillian O'Neal (Burbank, Calif. ) added five digs and three kills.

Cassandra Palmer picked up 11 kills for Merchant Marine, and Michelle Danhof grabbed nine digs.

Maine Maritime 3 – Mass. Maritime 0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-14)

In their final match of the Fifth Annual Maritime Classic the Mariners scored seven straight points to build a 7-4 lead that the Buccaneers could not overcome to win the first set 25-18. In set two the Mariners combined for nine service aces to win 25-11. In the final set Gillian O'Neal recorded five straight service aces for the Mariners to overpower the Buccaneers 24-14.

O'Neal led the way for the Marines with 12 kills, 10 digs, 10 service aces for a total of 22 points. Betsy Trenckmann (La Veta, Colo) added 17 assists and three digs, while teammate Molly Marcotte (Seekonk, Mass.) grabbed seven service aces and five digs. 

Merchant Marine clinched the Maritime Classic Championship. Maine Maritime's Gillian O'Neal and Sydney Robertson were named to the Maritime Classic All-Tournament Team after their strong performances for the Mariners. 

The Mariners (3-7) will return to action next Saturday when they host the University of Maine at Fort Kent at 4:30 PM.