FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College volleyball team (4-7, 0-3 CAC) put forth a valiant effort but came up short to the St. Mary's College (Md.) Seahawks (11-5, 2-1 CAC) Tuesday evening, falling 25-20, 25-14, 25-9 at Gambrill Gymnasium.

Hood came out strong in the opening set, leading by as many as four points in the early going. A pair of kills by Kristan Hawkins and Amy Hagerdon gave the Blazers a 9-5 lead. The Seahawks rallied to tie the score at 11-11 on a Blazer attack error and later took their first lead of the set on a service ace by Cecilia Blanc. From there, SMCM would not relinquish its lead, closing out the set on a pair of kills by Trish Kallis and Shannon Fitzpatrick.

The Seahawks raced out to an 8-0 lead to start the second set. The Blazers clawed their way back into it and took advantage of three Seahawk hitting errors to draw to within 11-8. Hood was unable to close the gap any further and St. Mary's went on to clinch the second set, 25-14. SMCM never trailed in the third set and completed the sweep for their second CAC win of the season.

Hood's Kristina Straub keyed the Blazer attack with nine kills while Hagerdon took over the primary setting duties for this match and set up 16 of Hood's 19 kills on the night. Chelsea Weaver posted 10 digs and needs just two more to tie Shannon Lertora '03 for third place on Hood's all-time list.

The Blazers continue CAC play Thursday at Wesley College at 7 p.m.