September 26, 2009

Maine Maritime sweeps Eastern Nazarene and Newbury College at ENC Tri-Match for wins 9 & 10 of the season.

Game 1: Eastern Nazarene overcomes 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 over Newbury

Eastern Nazarene College played host to a tri-match at the Lahue Physical Education Center this Saturday and overcame a two game deficit to defeat the Newbury College Nighthawks three games to two. The win snaps an eleven game losing streak on the part of the Lions, improving their record to 2-13 and the Nighthawks to 5-11.

Amber Burns (Fall River, MA) had an outstanding offensive game recording 17 kills in the five game set that saw her team to their first win since the second game of the season. Despite a strong effort by Sarah Hannah (Center Moriches, NY) who recorded 7 kills of her own, the Nighthawks had no answer, after leading 2-0, for the strong surge displayed by the Lions.

The Eastern Nazarene College Lions will face the Maine Maritime Academy in the last game of the tri-match, and try to build off their strong comeback win, and then will go on the road to face Regis College this Wednesday September 30.

Game 2: Maine Maritime Academy Defeats Newbury College, 3-1

Maine Maritime Academy squared off against Newbury College in the second game of a tri-match hosted by Eastern Nazarene College in the Lahue Physical Education Center. MMA Mariners handled the NC Nighthawks fairly easily, defeating them in four games, and won their first game of the tri-match on Saturday. The MMA Mariners saw their record increase to 9-2 while the NC Nighthawks dropped yet another game to 5-11.

Aided by the incredible play of Chelsea Ward (Homer, AK) who tallied 18 kills, 6 aces, and 3 digs, the Mariners handed the Nighthawks their second loss of the day and never really showed signs of slowing down despite losing the second set. Amy Young (Cumberland, ME) and Heather Moore (Macedon, NY) each added 8 kills while Jenn Dixon (Woodstock, MD) had a match high 30 assists. The strong team play of the Mariners kept the Nighthawks to under fifteen points in every set except for the second one.

Newbury College will try to snap their three game losing streak versus Worchester College this Tuesday September 29. Maine Maritime Academy will square off against Eastern Nazarene in the final game of the tri-match later this afternoon.

Game 3: Maine Maritime sweeps Eastern Nazarene in three, 3-0.

Eastern Nazarene College fell to Maine Maritime Academy in three straight games in the final game of a tri-match hosted by ENC at the Lahue Physical Education Center. Unable to duplicate their earlier performance, the Lions fell prey to the stellar performance of the Mariners while their record dropped to 2-13. With their second win of the day, the Mariners improved their record to 10-2.

The Lions did not have a defensive answer to the explosive offensive play of Chelsea Ward who improved on her outstanding day accumulating 20 kills, 5 digs, and 3 blocks in the victory. Amy Young added 8 kills while Jenn Dixon added 26 assists and 5 aces. Katelyn Yoder (Smithsburg, MD) recorded 7 digs for the Lions, but it proved to be futile. The win saw Maine Maritime go undefeated in their two games at the tri-match, and Eastern Nazarene splitting their part in the event 1-1, while Newbury went 0 for 2.

Eastern Nazarene College faces Regis College next Wednesday September 30, and Maine Maritime Academy will look to continue their hot streak versus Husson University the same day.