KINGS POINT, N.Y. – Maine Maritime Academy volleyball split day two of the Maritime Classic, opening up the day with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-10, 25-17) victory over Massachusetts Maritime, but fell in their second match to Merchant Marine Academy 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-18, 25-17), giving Merchant Marine their second-straight Maritime Classic win.

Game One: Maine Maritime 3 – Massachusetts Maritime 0 (25-10, 25-10, 25-17) 

The Mariners cruised to a 3-0 victory over Massachusetts Maritime in the first game on Sunday. Junior Gillian O'Neal (Burbank, Calif.) notched 14 kills and seven digs to lead Maine Maritime in second round action of the Sixth Annual Maritime Classic.

Freshman Tess Clark (Spring, Texas) added a double-double with 12 kills, 12 digs and six service aces for the victorious Mariners and freshman Melissa Spaulding (Fairbanks, Alaska) collected 27 set assists for Maine Maritime, which also received nine digs from senior Jessica Menges (Old Forge, N.Y.). 

Emily Calnan and Charleen Klangos registered three kills each and combined for nine digs in the setback for the Buccaneers (1-7), who also received seven set assists and six digs from junior Emma Ethier.

Game Two: Merchant Marine 3 – Maine Maritime 1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-18, 25-17)

Merchant Marine took the first set, 25-15, but Maine Maritime fought back to tie the match with a nail-biting, back-and-forth 25-23 second-set victory. USMMA took the third and fourth sets 25-18 and 25-17, respectively, to capture the victory. Merchant Marine improves to 7-3 with the win, while Maine Maritime falls to 8-4, breaking a seven-game win streak.

Maine Maritime had three players register double-doubles, as Tess Clark led the team with 14 kills and 19 digs, while Gillian O'Neal had 12 kills and 11 digs and Melissa Spaulding dished out a match-high 33 assists to go along with 12 digs. Molly Marcotte (Woonsocket, R.I.) recorded 16 digs, while Jessica Menges and Alex McClure (Iron Station, N.C.) each added 10 digs.

Brianne Cook recorded a triple-double in the match, leading all players with 16 kills to go along with 15 digs and 11 assists. She also registered four service aces on the day. Junior libero Darin Zacharias picked up a match-high 20 digs, while sophomore Kayla Gleason dished out 26 assists. Junior captain Gabby Marionakis contributed 12 digs in the victory.

O'Neal and Clark received All-Tournament honors for their performances over the two-day tournament. 

The Mariners will return to action this Wednesday, September 23^rd as they host Bates College for a non-conference match at 7:00 p.m., before traveling to Keene State to take on the Owls and St. Michael's on Saturday, September 26.