THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Yeshiva University women's volleyball team dropped three hard-fought sets to Skyline foe Maritime College, at Riesenberg Gym, on Sunday afternoon. Sets scores were 25-22, 25-18, and 25-19.

Leading the way for the Maccabees (0-5, 0-4 Skyline) was senior Daniella Rothman, who slammed home a team-high four kills. Classmate Gabrielle Kupferman generated three kills, two digs, a service ace, and a block assist. Junior Ashley Botnick anchored the defense with a team-best seven digs, while providing a pair of assists and a service ace on the offensive end. Second-year player Aleesa Elbaum provided six digs, a kill, and a service ace. Senior Tali Miller had a solid match with three kills, five digs, and three assists. Rookie sensation Shany Elmaleh tallied two kills, two aces, and six digs.

The Maccabees got off to a strong start in the opening set as kills from Elmaleh and Rothman, as well as a service ace courtesy of senior Emily Zrihen, guided YU to a 7-6 advantage. With Yeshiva down 9-8 a little while later, Elbaum knocked down a kill to tie it up. However, the Privateers (1-1, 1-0 Skyline) surged to 7-0 run to take a commanding 16-9 advantage. Yeshiva answered as a service ace by Ashley Botnick, and a kill from Kupferman, helped the Macs to a 5-1 run to narrow their deficit to 17-14. After Maritime built to a 20-15 benefit, Yeshiva once again had an answer as two service aces from Elmaleh, and a kill by Miller, highlighted five unanswered points to allow YU to tie the set at 20 points apiece. The Privateers jumped out in front, 22-21, a few rallies later but Miller took a set play from Ashley Botnick and slammed home a kill to tie the match up, 22-22. That would be all Yeshiva would get as Maritime scored the final three points to win a close first set, 25-22.

The Privateers' momentum carried into the second set as they jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Yeshiva clawed its way back into the set as a service ace from Kupferman narrowed the Macs' deficit to 11-5. Later, with Yeshiva down 16-6, Rothman provided a kill that sparked a 6-1 rally for the Maccabees, capped off by a service ace from Elbaum, to shrink Maritime's hold to 17-12. That was as close as Yeshiva would get in the set, as Maritime held off YU's comeback attempt to win the second stanza by a score of 25-18.

The Maccabees had a fast start in the third set, as Rothman's kill propelled the Macs to an 8-2 blitz to begin the frame. After both teams exchanged a point, the Privateers produced a 9-3 run to even the set at 12 points apiece. Later in the game, a series of Maritime errors put Yeshiva back in front, 17-15. Yeshiva fell behind, 19-18, a little while later, but Kupferman scored a kill to tie the set up. However, Maritime scored the final six points to clinch the set and the conference victory.

For Yeshiva, Zrihen recorded five digs, two assists, and a block. Junior Zoey Botnick produced four digs and an assist. Senior Devorah Batt had two digs and an assist of her own.

For Maritime, senior Celyna Custodio led all players with 18 kills, while adding six digs. Classmate Brooke Kirchner produced 10 service aces and 22 assists.

Yeshiva will continue its three-match Skyline road trip on Tuesday evening at Purchase College. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.