St. Mary’s City, MD — The St. Mary’s College of Maryland Seahawks volleyball team (18-10) moved forward in the United East Conference tournament after defeating Notre Dame (MD) (17-10) in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 victory on their home court. Despite an early setback, the Seahawks rallied across four hard-fought sets to secure their spot in the upcoming semifinals, where they will face Lancaster Bible College.
The Gators, currently 17-10, opened the match with a strong showing, taking the first set with a late run that secured them a 25-21 win and an early 1-0 lead. While St. Mary’s kept pace through much of the set, Notre Dame’s four-point run at the end marked the difference, setting the Seahawks up for a challenging match.
St. Mary’s came into the second set determined to even the score. With the Seahawks trailing 22-19, sophomore Maya Mauro delivered a standout performance, recording four consecutive kills that led to a five-point run. This surge saw the Seahawks gain a 24-22 lead, culminating with Ellie Matthews’ clinching point to win the set 25-23. With the game now even, the Seahawks looked to build on their momentum in the third set.
The third set saw the two teams exchanging points, neither gaining a clear advantage until a breakthrough sequence by Mauro. Ahead by a slim margin at 18-16, Mauro contributed four kills and two service aces, powering the Seahawks through a decisive 6-0 run. This push allowed St. Mary’s to close out the third set with a 25-17 win, putting them ahead 2-1 in the match.
The fourth set followed a similar rhythm, with the Seahawks maintaining a slim lead but struggling to fully pull away from Notre Dame. In the critical final moments, St. Mary’s capitalized on several Gator errors, seizing the last five points to close the set 25-19. With this victory, the Seahawks clinched the match, securing their advancement to the United East Conference semifinals.
Inside the Box Score
Junior outside hitter Julia Bobrowski led St. Mary’s in offensive production with a match-high 14 kills, while Alayna Sievert added an additional spark, contributing three service aces. Defensively, Faith Shockley provided strength at the net, recording four blocks to stymie Notre Dame’s offensive efforts.
Up Next
The Seahawks will face Lancaster Bible College on November 12 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for a chance to continue their run in the conference tournament.
