U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 3, Farmingdale State 1 (25-18, 25-15, 23-25, 25-21)
KINGS POINT, N.Y. | The Farmingdale State College women's volleyball team dropped its opening Skyline Conference match of the season Tuesday night, as the Rams were defeated by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in four sets.
After USMMA (11-2, 2-0 Skyline) won the first two sets, the Rams (5-3, 0-1) jumped ahead 14-8 in the third set before holding off a Mariners rally to pull to within a 2-1 margin in the match. USMMA came all the way back to take a 22-21 lead, with FSC responding by registering the final three points of the frame. Junior outside hitter
Samantha Russo (Bay Shore, N.Y.) leveled the set at 23-all on a kill, before a solo block by sophomore
Alexa Hansen (Warwick, N.Y.) inched the visitors back in front. Senior setter
Sarah Rende (Wantagh, N.Y.) closed the set out by landing one of FSC's four aces on the evening.
Russo recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs, while fellow junior and right side
Leslie Wandmacher (Bay Shore, N.Y.) tallied nine kills and two block assists. Rende ended the night with 25 assists, with senior
Allison Salinas (Glen Cove, N.Y.) leading the Rams' back row with 16 digs.
Farmingdale State is back in Skyline play next Wednesday (Oct. 7), when it plays host to SUNY Old Westbury at 6 p.m.
