Farmingdale State - 3, Merchant Marine - 2 (16-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-12)
Farmingdale, N.Y. - Leading 14-12 in the fifth set, Farmingdale State freshman Kalena Ricketts (Cambria Heights, N.Y.) blocked the Merchant Marine attack to record the match-winning point and cap off the 3-2 comeback victory. The FSC women's volleyball team improved to 4-7 overall and 1-0 in the Skyline Conference, while the Mariners dropped to 7-2, 2-1.
After Merchant Marine captured the first two sets, the Rams answered with a 25-23 victory in the third. The Mariners jumped out to an 18-15 lead in the fourth set until Farmingdale State tallied seven unanswered points. During that run, freshman outside Cathleen Farrell (Bayport, N.Y.) was the server and she recorded three aces. FSC closed out the set and earned the 25-21 win.
Tied 3-3 in the fifth and final set, Farmingdale State took a two-point lead on a kill by Farrell and a Merchant Marine attacking error. The Mariners quickly answered with a Meredith Buchanan (Kathleen, Ga.) kill and a point on an FSC attacking error to even the score at 5-5.
Trailing 9-8, the Rams again tied the match at 9-9 on a kill by Ricketts off the set from sophomore Lexi Cavalieri (Lake Grove, N.Y.). Merchant Marine recorded the next three points to take a 12-9 advantage and force a Farmingdale State timeout. After the break, junior outside Kate Flamio (East Islip, N.Y.) tallied back-to-back kills to cut the FSC deficit to one, 12-11. Three consecutive attacking errors by the Mariners gave the Rams a 14-12 advantage and set up the match-winning block by Ricketts on the next series as the Rams went on for the 15-12 victory in the fifth set.
Farrell finished the night with a match-high 13 kills and a career-high four service aces, while Ricketts tallied a career-best 12 kills and had four blocks. Freshman middle blocker Mikayla Profeta (West Islip, N.Y.) added nine kills (career-high) and junior libero Madisyn Pozo (Bayside, N.Y.) had 14 digs and two aces. Cavalieri and freshman setter Molly Miller (East Northport, N.Y.) notched 21 and 14 assists, respectively.
For Merchant Marine, senior right side Sierra Steffen (Encinitas, Calif.) and senior outside Taylor Gilbertson (Phoenix, Ariz.) each had a team-leading 12 kills, while senior setter Brittney Pinzon (Fullerton, Calif.) recorded a match-high 26 assists and 13 digs in the loss.
The Rams next will head to Misericordia for a tri-match on Saturday, September 25th. Farmingdale State will square off against Keystone at 2:00 p.m. and Misericordia at 4:00 p.m.
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