New York, NY - The defending CUNY Athletic Conference champion John Jay women's volleyball team opened the 2026 season on Tuesday evening, defeating Maritime in straight sets, 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 26-24), inside The Doghouse.
The Bloodhounds begin the season at 1-0, while the Privateers fall to 0-1. John Jay controlled the match from the service line and at the net, finishing with 17 service aces and seven total blocks while holding Maritime to a .129 hitting percentage. The Bloodhounds hit .267 for the match, totaling 33 kills on 75 attacks with 13 errors.
Emilia Cascapera delivered a highly efficient performance, finishing with a match-high nine kills without an attack error on 14 swings for a .643 hitting percentage.
Ansley Hobson stuffed the stat sheet with eight kills, 11 assists, four digs, and two blocks while hitting .250.
Kynzie MacInnes made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, recording six service aces to go along with three kills on five attempts and two digs. 2025 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year
Madison Mullan added three kills, three total blocks and two aces, while newcomer
Shamyra Herrera contributed two blocks. John Jay used multiple setters throughout the evening, with Hobson handing out a team-high 11 assists,
Kaia Mittauer adding 10 and
Caroline Guerney finishing with five
SET ONE – JOHN JAY 25, MARITIME 19Maritime scored the first point of the 2026 season, but the Bloodhounds quickly settled into the match. With the score tied at 2-2, John Jay scored three straight points, highlighted by a Cascapera kill, to take an early 5-2 advantage. The turning point came with John Jay holding a narrow 7-7 edge. MacInnes stepped behind the service line and immediately changed the set's complexion. The rookie sparked a six-point John Jay run that included three service aces along with kills from Cascapera and Mullan, turning a tie score into a 13-7 Bloodhound advantage.
Cascapera continued to power the offense as the Bloodhounds stretched the lead to 17-10. Maritime cut the deficit to four at 18-14, but John Jay never relinquished control. MacInnes added another ace late to make it 22-17 before Mullan delivered an ace of her own to bring up set point.
Anna Santos closed the frame with a kill, giving the Bloodhounds a 25-19 opening-set victory.
SET TWO – JOHN JAY 25, MARITIME 16The Bloodhounds carried the momentum into the second set. After Maritime grabbed a 2-1 advantage, MacInnes again provided a spark from the service line. Back-to-back aces helped John Jay move ahead 4-2 before Mittauer's kill pushed the advantage to 5-2. John Jay steadily built its lead from there. Hobson put away a kill for a 9-6 advantage before Herrera followed with a kill and MacInnes added another termination as the Bloodhounds moved in front, 11-7. The Bloodhounds' service pressure kept creating problems for the Privateers.
Lizbeth Martinez delivered consecutive aces to extend the margin to 13-7. Mullan later recorded a block and a kill as John Jay pushed its lead to 15-10.
Cascapera took over during another decisive stretch. The newcomer recorded consecutive kills to extend the advantage to 18-12 before combining with Herrera on a block that made it 19-12. John Jay scored six of seven points during the run to take a commanding 20-12 lead. Cascapera later added an ace, while Mullan's kill brought up set point at 24-15. A Maritime service error finished the frame, 25-16.
John Jay hit a match-best .389 in the second set, committing just two attack errors on 18 swings while limiting Maritime to a .000 hitting percentage.
SET THREE – JOHN JAY 26, MARITIME 24Maritime responded in the third set and built its largest advantage of the evening, forcing John Jay to play from behind. The Privateers opened a 7-4 lead and later extended their advantage to 13-8. The Bloodhounds began chipping away behind their service game.
Theresa Schmitt helped ignite the comeback. After a Hobson kill cut the deficit to 13-11, Schmitt delivered an ace to bring John Jay within one at 13-12. Maritime rebuilt its lead to 15-12 before John Jay answered again.
Hailey Waugaman recorded a kill before Hobson followed with another as the Bloodhounds eventually drew even at 16-16.
The teams traded points before Waugaman stepped to the service line with John Jay trailing 17-16. The junior delivered consecutive aces as part of a four-point run that suddenly put the Bloodhounds ahead, 20-17.
Maritime refused to go away. The Privateers erased a 22-19 John Jay lead with three straight points to tie the set at 22-22. Hobson answered with a kill for a 23-22 advantage, but Maritime scored the next two points to earn set point at 24-23.
John Jay responded under pressure.
Waugaman put down a kill to fight off set point and tie the score at 24-24. An attack error by Maritime's Laci Werner gave the Bloodhounds match point before Hobson finished the comeback with a kill off a Guerney assist, sealing the set, 26-24, and completing the season-opening sweep.
John Jay finished with advantages in kills (33-24), service aces (17-8), blocks (7-3), assists (31-23) and total points (57-35).
Cascapera's nine kills paced the Bloodhounds, while Hobson finished second with eight. MacInnes' six aces led all players as John Jay received service aces from eight different players. The Bloodhounds' offense finished the night hitting .267, including marks of .346 and .389 over the opening two sets. Maritime was held to 24 kills and a .129 hitting percentage. John Jay also displayed its depth in the season opener, with 13 Bloodhounds recording at least one point and 10 players registering at least one kill.
For Maritime, Addison Weist and Laci Werner shared the team leads with seven kills apiece. Mikaela Thiel handed out a match-high 15 assists, while Ashley Pavarini recorded four of the Privateers' eight service aces.
The Bloodhounds hit the road this weekend, as they will head to Madison, NJ, for the FDU Florham Tri-Match, where they will take on Emmanuel at noon before taking on the hosts at 2:00 p.m.
