Fighting Tigers Season Concludes in NAC Semifinals Loss to Maine Maritime

CASTINE, MAINE – The SUNY Cobleskill women’s volleyball team saw its postseason run come to an end on Sunday afternoon, falling to top-seeded Maine Maritime Academy in straight sets (9-25, 11-25, 8-25) in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Semifinals.

Junior outside hitter Emma Hinze (Altenburg, Mo.) led the way for the Fighting Tigers with a team-high five kills and three digs. Kathleen Smart (Nashville, Tenn.) and Audrey Davis (Hudson Falls, NY) each added three kills, while Smart chipped in two digs. The setting duo of Baylee Kirschberg (Lindenhurst, NY) and Jade Ward (Miami, Fla.) combined for 15 assists, with Kirschberg tallying seven and Ward eight. Hallie Gasner (Middleburgh, NY) provided a spark from the service line, notching two aces.

Maine Maritime controlled the tempo for much of the match, using strong serving and efficient hitting to stay in command. The Tigers totaled 16 kills on the afternoon, while the Mariners finished with 46. Maine also held advantages in aces (12-2), assists (43-13), and digs (30-16).

Cobleskill opened the first set with early energy, trading points to trail just 4-3 after kills from Hinze and Ciarra Jager (Stephentown, NY), but the Mariners responded with an 8-1 run to seize momentum and take the opener, 25-9.

In the second set, the Tigers grabbed the first point after a Smart kill off a Ward assist, but Maine Maritime quickly countered with a 14-1 stretch to take control. Cobleskill showed resilience with a pair of 3-0 mini runs - highlighted by kills from Hinze, Kirschberg, and Davis - but the Mariners closed out the frame, 25-11.

The hosts carried their momentum into the third set, jumping out to an 8-0 lead before a Kirschberg kill put the Tigers on the board. Gasner provided back-to-back aces to keep the offense fighting, but Maine Maritime continued to roll and secured the set, 25-8, to advance to the NAC Finals.

With the loss, the Fighting Tigers close out their 2025 season after another strong campaign that saw them reach the NAC Semifinals for the second consecutive year.