KINGS POINT, N.Y. – Sophomore Angelou Dunton hit .344 and had a match-high 16 kills to go with 11 digs as Coast Guard held off archrival Merchant Marine 3-2 in a non-conference match. The Bears won 25-21, 25-7, 18-25, 13-25, 15-6.

It was the second straight season that the Bears outlasted Merchant Marine in five sets. Dunton registered her fifth double-double of the season and fifth in the last six matches.

The Bears, who have won the Superintendent's Trophy in each of the last three seasons, are off to a quick 3-0 lead in the 2017-18 race for the trophy following tonight's win.

Coast Guard has won seven of its last eight this season to improve to 9-3 overall while the Mariners drop to 6-3. The Bears have now won 18 of the 20 all-time meetings against the Merchant Marine Academy.

Freshman Bridget Boyle added nine kills and 11 digs while senior Michelle McGill led the Bears with 13 digs. Sophomore Makenna Martin led the Bears with 24 assists.

Merchant Marine started out strong and built a 14-7 lead. The Mariners led 19-13 before the Bears rallied by running off six straight to pull even 19-19. The opening set was tied 21-21 before Coast Guard scored the final four points for the 25-21 win.

The second game was all Coast Guard. The Bears behind the serving of Martin scored the first six points of the second set. Coast Guard would continue to increase the lead scoring six of the next seven points for a commanding 12-1 lead. The Bears led 20-4 and cruised to the 25-7 win. Coast Guard hit .400 in dominating play in the second set.

The Mariners showed signs of life jumping out to a 7-4 lead in the third set before the Bears pulled even 11-11. Merchant Marine took control of the set and got the home crowd back into the match by scoring ten straight to take a 23-13 lead en route to the 25-18 win.

In the fourth set, Coast Guard would score six straight to take an early 9-3 lead with freshman Veronica Hine having a pair of aces in the run. The Mariners would respond scoring seven of the next eight points to tie the game at 10 and that began a 15-2 run as Merchant Marine took a 18-11 lead. Merchant Marine would score six of the final seven points for a 25-13 win.

In the final set, Coast Guard raced to a 5-0 lead with Boyle serving and the Bears dominated play leading 10-1 before closing out the match with a 15-6 victory.

The Bears are back in action on Saturday when they host MIT at noon and Hunter at 4:00.