MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME VOLLEYBALL

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Lahue Center, Quincy, Mass.

GAME #1 FINAL:          EASTERN NAZARENE 3, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 0

                                    (Game Scores:  25-14, 26-24, 25-13)

GAME #2 FINAL:          MITCHELL 3, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 2

                                    (Game Scores:  17-25, 25-17, 25-17, 24-26, 15-5)

QUINCY, Mass. --  The Massachusetts Maritime volleyball team opened its 2016 season by dropping a non-league tri-match decision to host Eastern Nazarene (3-0) and Mitchell (3-2) in a pair of contests played Saturday afternoon at the Lahue Center.

Freshman Courtney McCarthy (Merrimack, N.H.) notched 10 kills 10 digs in her collegiate debut for the host Lions (2-0), who notched a 25-14, 26-24, 25-13 triumph over the visiting Buccaneers (0-2) in the opening match of the day.  Senior Joanna Joseph (Brockton, Mass.) added seven kills in the win for Eastern Nazarene, which also received 20 set assists and six digs from junior Laurel Berger (Laurel, Del.).

Senior Charleen Klangos (Lowell, Mass.) collected seven kills and five digs in the opening setback for Massachusetts Maritime, which also received 13 set assists, nine digs and four kills from senior Emma Ethier (Norton, Mass.).  Freshman Marie Harrison (Weymouth, Mass.) chipped in with 11 digs, four kills and a pair of set assists in her first collegiate contest for the Buccaneers, who also received four kills from sophomore Jennifer Roy (Attleboro, Mass.) as well as a combined 13 digs from freshmen Christina Ruggeri (Bourne, Mass.) and Michelle Sheehan (Attleboro, Mass.).

After dropping the opening set (25-17) of the nightcap, Mitchell (1-1) took the next two sets by that same score before Massachusetts Maritime used a 26-24 win to force a fifth and deciding set.  The Buccaneers raced out to a 5-2 lead in that frame, but junior Janelle Rice (Meriden, Conn.) served out the match for the Mariners and posted four service aces as part of the 13-point run in a 15-5 triumph.  Senior Amanda Rowan (Sandy Hook, Conn.) notched 12 kills, 14 digs and five service aces in the victory for Mitchell, which received 13 digs, nine kills and eight service aces from Rice.  Junior Lauren Tompkins (Prospect, Conn.) chipped in with 18 set assists and nine digs for the winners, who also received 26 digs from sophomore Colby Zitoli (Walpole, Mass.).

Klangos collected nine kills and 12 digs in the nightcap setback for Massachusetts Maritime, which also received nine kills from Roy as well as six kills and 15 digs from Harrison.  Sheehan and Ruggeri combined for 25 digs and five service aces for the Buccaneers, who also received 13 set assists, seven digs and three kills from Ethier.

Massachusetts Maritime heads into Boston on Tuesday evening to take on Suffolk in a non-league outing that begins at 7:00 p.m., while Eastern Nazarene travels to Cambridge, Mass. on Wednesday evening for a non-league match with Lesley at 8:00 p.m.  Mitchell heads to New Haven, Conn. on Thursday evening to square off with Albertus Magnus in a non-conference clash beginning at 6:00 p.m.