Box
Score
Salisbury, Md. - For the first time since 1998,
the St. Mary's College of Maryland volleyball team went five sets
with conference rival, Salisbury University; nonetheless, it was
the host Sea Gulls who tallied the 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-25,
15-13) decision as Salisbury nabbed the Capital Athletic Conference
regular-season title Wednesday night with an undefeated league
record.
The Sea Gulls (24-4, 8-0 CAC) drew a first-round bye as the top
seed in the upcoming CAC tournament which begins Tuesday, November
3 with first round action. St. Mary's (16-11, 4-4 CAC)
finished conference play fifth in the standings and will travel to
York (Pa.) College on Tuesday for first-round action at 7:00 pm.
The two rivals were neck in neck in the deciding set as neither
squad led by more than two points at any given point.
Back-to-back kills by juniors Claire Kodan (Olney,
Md./Sherwood) and Katie Obal (Olney,
Md./Sherwood), the reigning CAC player of the week, awarded
the Seahawks a 12-10 advantage, forcing Salisbury to take a
timeout. However, junior outside hitters Kelly
Williams (Laurel, Md./Pallotti) and Lexy
Fitzkee (Fallston, Md./Fallston) combined for two kills
and an ace to help the hosts regain a one-point lead.
Following a timeout, senior middle blocker Jen
Lamar (Collegeville, Pa./Spring-Ford) knotted the set at
13-all with her seventh kill of the night, forcing a second Sea
Gull timeout. Salisbury closed out the match with a kill and
ace from freshman setter Carley Todd (Centerport,
N.Y./Harborfields) and senior middle hitter Nicole
Massarelli (Clarksville, Md./Atholton), respectively.
The Seahawks overcame an early 4-1 deficit to capture the first
set 25-20 before Salisbury claimed the next two, 25-22 and
25-20. The third set featured eight ties and five lead
changes as the visitors squandered 10-6 leads in those two set
losses. The fourth one went to SMCM as the Seahawks erased an
8-4 setback and finally took the lead on a Sea Gull attacking
error.
Williams finished the match with match-highs of
14 kills and three service aces while Massarelli
added 13 kills, two aces, and one block solo in leading the
Salisbury offense. Todd and sophomore setter
Lindsey Saltzman (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield)
combined for 38 assists.
The Seahawks had three players put up double-digit kills as
senior outside hitter Sarah Gregorini (Ellicott
City, Md./Centennial) notched 13 followed by 12 each from
Kodan and sophomore middle blocker Gena
Hlavinka (Gaithersburg, Md./T.S. Wootton).
Lamar ended the match with seven kills and four
block solos while freshman setter Dani Thorne
(Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) served up three aces.
Obal contributed 43 assists and four kills.
The Seahawks will return to action this Friday-Saturday, October
30-31 as St. Mary's hosts its Fifth Annual Seahawk
Invitational. On Friday, the Seahawks will take on
Bridgewater (Va.) College at 3:00 pm followed by a match with
Catholic University at 5:00 pm.
