The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's volleyball team opened its 2026 season in impressive fashion Tuesday night, sweeping Baruch College, 3-0, at the ARC Arena in New York. The Mariners controlled the match from the start, taking the opening set 25-18 before continuing to build momentum in the second and third sets. USMMA finished the night with a 33-20 advantage in kills and also held a significant edge in hitting efficiency, attacking at a .211 clip compared with .025 for the Bearcats. Freshman outside hitter Anna Kelly led the Mariners with nine kills in her collegiate debut, while freshman setter Miranda Zeng recorded 24 assists in her first collegiate match.
USMMA steadily separated itself from Baruch throughout the second set, using its offensive consistency to pull away for a 25-14 victory. The Mariners' balanced attack made it difficult for the Bearcats to establish a rhythm, while USMMA also recorded 14 service aces as a team. Kelly's nine kills paced the attack, with the Mariners receiving contributions across the lineup in their first official match of the season. On the other side, Baruch senior setter Karen Pozo Castro worked to keep the Bearcats organized offensively, finishing with 17 assists, while junior Karolina Lundqvist provided a team-high six kills.
Baruch showed more fight in the third set, but USMMA remained in control and eventually closed out the match with a 25-19 win. The Bearcats finished the night with 37 digs, led by senior Pei Qiong Ren with nine, while Ava Tartour added seven and Pozo Castro recorded six. USMMA's ability to maintain pressure at the service line and consistently convert opportunities at the net allowed the Mariners to finish the sweep without dropping a set. The victory gives USMMA a 1-0 start to the season, while Baruch will look to rebound Friday at the Yeshiva University tri-match.