CH4MPS: Women’s Volleyball Rallies to Clinch North Atlantic Conference Crown, Edges Maine Maritime 3-2

CASTINE, Maine- The Eastern Nazarene College women's volleyball team erased a 2-0 deficit to earn a thrilling 3-2 victory at Maine Maritime to secure the 2023 North Atlantic Conference championship. With the win, the Lions notch their fourth-straight league title and snap the Mariners' streak of six-consecutive North Atlantic Conference championships.


THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 3, Maine Maritime 2
Records: Lions (28-2) | Mariners (21-6)

HOW IT HAPPENED:                              

• Maine Maritime captured the first set 25-23 to snag a 1-0 edge.
• The Mariners eked out a 25-23 decision in the second frame to extend their lead to 2-0.
• Eastern Nazarene clawed back to claim the third 25-11 to cut the deficit to 2-1.
• The Lions prevailed 25-18 in the fourth set to knot the match at 2-2.
• In the deciding fifth set, Eastern Nazarene capped off the come-from-behind win with a 15-13 victory to dethrone Maine Maritime.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Eliana Baran (Beaumont, Calif.) posted a match-best 17 kills and added seven digs with five blocks.
• Andrea Aceituno (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) registered a team-high 20 digs to go with 15 kills.
• Piper Bolner (LaGrangeville, N.Y.) finished with a career-high 12 kills while Shantte Siliezar (Puerto Cortes, Honduras) chipped in with 10 kills.
• Telma Zelaya (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) dished out 49 assists and added 13 digs.
• Amanda Pierce (Johnston, R.I.) contributed with 17 digs in the match.
• Sydney Williams notched a double-double to lead Maine Maritime with 15 kills and 16 digs.

NAC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
MVP: Telma Zelaya, Eastern Nazarene
Piper Bolner, Eastern Nazarene
Amanda Pierce, Eastern Nazarene
Ila Smith Maine Maritime
Sydney Williams Maine Maritime
Emily Huppee, SUNY Morrisville
Max Ludlow, Vermont State Johnson

NCAA TOURNAMENT:
By virtue of claiming the North Atlantic Conference championship, Eastern Nazarene earns the league automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Lions will be making their fourth-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. The 64-team field will be unveiled Monday, November 13 at 1pm on NCAA.com.