Maritime opened its 2026 women's volleyball season Tuesday night against defending CUNYAC champion John Jay, with the Bloodhounds ultimately earning a 3-0 victory over the Privateers, 25-19, 25-16, 26-24. Maritime grabbed the first point of the match and remained within striking distance during the opening set, but John Jay used a strong stretch at the service line to turn a 7-7 tie into a 13-7 advantage. The Bloodhounds continued to build their lead from there, although the Privateers pulled within four at 18-14 before John Jay closed out the set. Addison Weist and Laci Werner led Maritime with seven kills apiece, while Mikaela Thiel finished with a match-high 15 assists.
John Jay continued to control the second set, overcoming an early 2-1 Maritime lead before building a 13-7 advantage. The Bloodhounds' service game proved to be a major difference-maker, with Lizbeth Martinez recording back-to-back aces during the run. John Jay eventually extended its lead to 20-12 and closed the set, 25-16, after hitting .389 in the frame while limiting Maritime to a .000 hitting percentage. Kynzie MacInnes was especially effective for John Jay in her collegiate debut, finishing with six service aces and three kills, while Emilia Cascapera added a match-high nine kills without committing an attack error.
The Privateers saved their strongest push for the third set, jumping ahead 7-4 and later stretching the lead to 13-8. John Jay steadily chipped away at the deficit before eventually taking a 20-17 lead, but Maritime responded and erased a three-point deficit to tie the set at 22-22. The Privateers then moved ahead 24-23 to earn set point, putting themselves in position to extend the match. John Jay answered with three consecutive points, however, including an attack error by Maritime followed by a decisive kill from Ansley Hobson, giving the Bloodhounds a 26-24 set win and completing the sweep. Ashley Pavarini contributed four of Maritime's eight aces, while John Jay finished with advantages in kills, aces, blocks and assists.