ST. MARY’S CITY, MD – The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Volleyball team (7-6) hosted the SMCM Tri-Match, facing Salisbury University (10-2) and Hollins College (2-12). The Seahawks dropped their first match to Salisbury in four sets but rallied back with a three-set sweep over Hollins later in the day.
St. Mary’s vs. Salisbury (1-3)
In the first matchup, Salisbury dominated much of the first set, cruising to a 25-11 victory. The Seagulls set the tone early, putting the Seahawks on the defensive from the start. St. Mary’s struggled to find their footing, falling behind quickly and failing to recover in the opening set.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with the Seahawks trailing 11-5 early. However, St. Mary’s began to turn the tide, tying the game at 12 after consecutive service aces by Elizabeth Childs and a kill from Gracie Zartman. The teams traded points for the rest of the set, but with St. Mary’s trailing 24-23, the Seahawks scored three straight points, capped off by a kill from Maya Mauro, to win the set 26-24 and tie the match at 1-1.
Salisbury responded in the third set, jumping out to a 10-2 lead. The Seahawks showed resilience, clawing their way back to within one point at 13-12. Key kills by Grace Gilmore kept St. Mary’s in the match, but ultimately, Salisbury took control late and closed the set on a 3-0 run to win 25-21 and take a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set was closely contested early, with the score tied at 12-12 before Salisbury began to pull away. Despite continued pressure from the Seahawks, Salisbury maintained their lead, winning the set 25-20 and securing the match 3-1.
Key Performers Against Salisbury
- Maya Mauro led the Seahawks with 15 kills.
- Elizabeth Childs contributed four service aces.
- Ellie Matthews recorded two blocks.
St. Mary’s vs. Hollins (3-0)
In the second match of the day, the Seahawks found their rhythm, delivering a dominant performance against Hollins College. St. Mary’s cruised through the first set, winning 25-9. A key moment came when the Seahawks went on a 12-point run, with Childs serving 11 consecutive points, including three aces. Julia Bobrowski also contributed two kills during the streak, helping to put the set out of reach for Hollins.
The second set was more competitive, as Hollins tied the score at 11-11 midway through. However, St. Mary’s regained control after an Ellie Matthews service run, where the Seahawks scored four unanswered points. Faith Shockley’s two kills during that stretch helped the team close out the set with a 25-16 victory.
The third set saw St. Mary’s jump out to a 9-2 lead, but errors allowed Hollins to tie the score at 11. After back-and-forth play, the Seahawks finally took charge with a pair of key kills by Bobrowski. Alex Williams sealed the set and the match with a decisive kill, earning the Seahawks a 25-18 win and a 3-0 sweep.
Key Performers Against Hollins
- Gracie Zartman led the team with 14 kills.
- Elizabeth Childs added three service aces.
- Faith Shockley came up with six blocks.
Up Next for the Seahawks
St. Mary’s will next face Bryn Athyn at home on September 26 at 6:00 PM in St. Mary’s City, Maryland.
