Buccaneer Volleyball Battles Dean In 5-Set Loss To Bulldogs

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. - A pair of strong performances in the second and third sets of Thursday night's volleyball match with Dean College had Massachusetts Maritime knocking at the door. After taking the opener, the Bulldogs came back to claim the fourth set forcing a fifth and final set which they claimed 15-12 for the 3-2 win.

Dean won the opening set 25-15 pulling out to as much as an 11-point lead before nailing down the win. The Buccaneers charged back in the second set fighting of a determined Bulldog attack. Michelle Sheehan (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) dropped an ace on Dean midway through the second set and Jen Roy (Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) came up with a big block allowing the Bucs to maintain the lead. Massachusetts Maritime pulled away down the stretch outscoring the Bulldogs 3-1 for the 25-20 win. The Buccaneers rode the momentum from their second set win turning it into a win in the third set as they once again defeated Dean 25-20. Bianca Andronic (Somerset, Mass./Somerset-Berkley) and Tina Ruggeri (Bourne, Mass./Bourne) both did a nice job from the service line for the Bucs and Marie Harrison (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) came up big at the net.

Dean bounced back in the fourth set as they cruised to a 25-9 win for force a fifth set. Roy and Dean's Kait Anderson (Clinton, Mass./Clinton) were both big at the net in the deciding set and Harrison slammed home a pair of kills. Tied 10-10 the Bulldogs edged away outscoring the Bucs 5-2 down the stretch.

Harrison and Roy had big nights at the net for the Buccaneers with each finishing the night with 11 kills. Ruggeri had four service aces and 19 digs for MMA, Andronic finished the night with 23 digs, Brooke Naatz (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) had three aces and 19 digs and Harrison had 17 digs.

Melanie Rios-Nevarez (Vega Alta, PR/Ileana De Gracia) led the Bulldogs at the net with 11 kills.

Massachusetts Maritime (0-3) will host Eastern Nazarene on Monday at 7 PM.