KINGS POINT, N.Y. — The Pratt Institute women's volleyball team saw its three-match winning streak come to an end Tuesday evening, falling in straight sets to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, 25-15, 25-17, 25-10, at Liebertz Gym.
Pratt (4-4) went toe-to-toe with the Mariners early in the opening set, featuring eight ties up through an 8-8 deadlock after a kill from Joanna Doyle (Warren, N.H.). Merchant Marine (8-1) then capitalized on a five-point service run by Miranda Zeng to create a 13-8 cushion. Kills from Colleen Russell (Asbury, N.J.) and Kelsy Padilla (Brooklyn, N.Y.) helped the Cannoneers close within seven at 21-14, but the Mariners closed on a 4-1 run to take the opener, 25-15.
The Mariners opened up a 14-7 advantage in the second frame before Pratt mounted its strongest charge of the night. Behind the serving of Zoe Broerman (Cincinnati, Ohio), the Cannoneers rattled off five unanswered points — highlighted by three straight kills from Russell and a combined block from Alison Sontag (Manhasset, N.Y.) and Russell — to pull within two at 14-12. Pratt remained within striking distance at 18-16 following another Russell kill, but Merchant Marine answered with a 7-1 surge to claim the set, 25-17.
Merchant Marine carried that pace into the third set, building a 16-6 advantage and eventually reaching match point at 24-7. Pratt erased three consecutive match points on a kill from Doyle, a service ace by Gabriella Prieto (Amityville, N.Y.), and another kill from Russell before the Mariners finished off the sweep, 25-10.
Russell paced the Pratt attack with 11 kills to go along with eight digs and a block assist. Emma Hwang (Dallas, Texas) directed the offense with 19 assists and added two digs, while Padilla contributed five kills and seven digs. Prieto anchored the back row with seven digs and notched the team's lone service ace.
Merchant Marine held a 30-21 edge in kills and recorded seven total blocks to Pratt's one, while also generating 12 service aces.
Anna Kelly and Candy Saz-Price led the Mariners with seven kills apiece, while Jenny Dyke added five kills and six block assists. Zeng dished out 14 assists and served five aces for the hosts.
Pratt returns home to host York College on Thursday, September 24 at 7 p.m. at the ARC.
