Brooklyn, NY---The Brooklyn College women's volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-16), decision to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in their home opener at the West Quad Center on Tuesday. BC moves to 1-3 overall with the loss while the Mariners improved to 5-1. Next Up: Brooklyn continues their homestand on Thursday against Farmingdale State at 6pm. Â
Brooklyn showed strong stretches throughout the match, particularly in the opening two sets. The Bulldogs finished with 22 kills and five team blocks, while Saule Okeke-Ziburkus paced the attack with eight kills and 11.5 points. Olivia Fan added four kills, while Meadow Andrews contributed two kills and was involved in several key blocks.
Rose Kory directed the Brooklyn offense with 10 assists and added a pair of service aces.
After Merchant Marine opened with the first point, Brooklyn quickly answered as Fan recorded a kill from Sophie Galchus to make it 1-1. Okeke-Ziburkus then delivered back-to-back kills, including one set by Kory, as the Bulldogs took control early.
Brooklyn put together its strongest run of the opening set midway through the frame. With Kory serving and directing the offense, the Bulldogs scored six consecutive points to turn a 3-4 deficit into a 9-4 advantage. During the run, Okeke-Ziburkus and Andrews recorded kills, Reyes added a kill, and Kory served an ace.
Merchant Marine responded with a run of its own and eventually pulled even. Brooklyn continued to battle, with Okeke-Ziburkus recording another kill and a service ace later in the set. Reyes closed the gap with a kill from Kory to make it 16-24, but Merchant Marine secured the opening set, 25-16.
Brooklyn again came out aggressively in the second set. Okeke-Ziburkus registered a kill from Reyes, while Andrews and Okeke-Ziburkus combined for a block that helped the Bulldogs build an early 7-3 lead. Okeke-Ziburkus followed with a service ace as Brooklyn maintained its advantage.
The Bulldogs stayed within striking distance throughout the set. With Merchant Marine holding a 20-19 lead, Okeke-Ziburkus connected for another kill to tie the score at 20-20. Reyes then answered with a kill to put Brooklyn back in front, 21-20. After Merchant Marine tied the set again, Brooklyn battled to 21-22 before the Mariners closed out the set, 25-23.
Brooklyn opened the third set with a kill by Olive Carroll, set by Reyes, and Fan followed with another kill to give the Bulldogs an early 2-1 lead. Andrews also contributed offensively as Brooklyn continued to compete through the opening portion of the set.
The Bulldogs continued to fight late in the match. Servania sparked a Brooklyn rally with consecutive service aces, helping the Bulldogs erase a three-point deficit and pull even at 19-19. Andrews then helped Brooklyn force another Merchant Marine attack error, but the Mariners regained the lead and finished the set, 25-16.
Okeke-Ziburkus finished with eight kills, nine attack errors and 34 attempts, while Andrews hit .333 with two kills. Kory's 35 assists and 10 digs led Brooklyn's setting and defensive efforts, while Reyes recorded 14 digs.
Brooklyn recorded 10 kills in the opening set, six in the second and six in the third. The Bulldogs also finished with five total team blocks.
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