CASTINE, Maine — The Maine Maritime Academy volleyball team advanced to the North Atlantic Conference Championship on Sunday after sweeping No. 4 Husson University 25-13, 25-16, 25-17 at Smith Gymnasium in the semifinal.
Maine Maritime controlled the match from start to finish, hitting .330 as a team while recording 43 kills, nine service aces and 53 digs in the straight-set victory.
Senior
Ally Hadley led the Mariners' balanced attack with 14 kills on a .423 hitting percentage and added two service aces. Senior
Sydney Williams contributed 12 kills, 15 digs, four total blocks and two aces, while freshman
Kelsie Murray was nearly flawless with six kills on 12 swings without an error for a .500 hitting percentage.
Freshman
Faith Reed orchestrated the offense with 34 assists and three service aces as Maine Maritime generated at least 14 kills in every set. Junior
Hannah Tate anchored the back row with a match-high 20 digs while adding two aces.
After cruising through the opening set, the Mariners faced an early 8-4 deficit in the second. Maine Maritime quickly responded with a 10-1 run fueled by strong serving from freshman
Lyla Annen and Hadley to take control at 14-9. The Mariners never looked back and closed the set on a 11-7 stretch for a commanding two-set advantage.
The third set proved to be Husson's most competitive effort as the Eagles built a 13-11 lead midway through the frame. Maine Maritime answered with a decisive 8-0 run behind the serving of Tate, highlighted by kills from Hadley and freshman
Jaslene Butler, to seize a 19-13 advantage. The Mariners maintained control from there, scoring four of the final five points to complete the sweep.
Butler turned in an efficient performance at the net with four kills and three total blocks, while Annen added six kills and eight digs. Murray chipped in six kills and two block assists as Maine Maritime totaled 6.5 team blocks.
The Mariners held Husson to a .120 hitting percentage and forced nine reception errors while dominating from the service line. Maine Maritime finished with advantages in kills (43-26), aces (9-6), digs (53-48) and hitting percentage (.330-.120).
The Mariners will play No. 3 Thomas College who defeated No. 2 Vermont State University Johnson 3-1 in the conference championship on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m.
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