CASTINE, Maine -- Bates College, taking to the road for the first time this fall, saw its season-starting winning streak come to an end as the Bobcats dropped a 3-2 decision at Maine Maritime Academy Wednesday evening in a back-and-forth affair.

The visitors, coming into the night with a 3-0 record to start the year, opened its match with a thrilling 26-24 win in the initial set. The Mariners answered back in the second, defeating the garnet-and-white, 25-17. Bates posted a healthy 25-12 surplus in set three to go ahead, 2-1. 

MMA (3-4) proceeded to right the ship as the home team authored a 26-24 decision of its own in the fourth set, tying the match at 2-2. In a fifth-and-final stanza, the Mariners stayed hot by jumping out to an 8-2 advantage. Bates refused to go down as the Bobcats rattled off a 6-2 spurt to slice the deficit to 10-8.

It would be full steam ahead from this point forward for MMA as they rattled off five-consecutive points to seal the frame, 15-8, and the overall victory.

The two teams would combine for 323 total attempts and 81 kills in the marathon match.

Ami Evans, despite the outcome, contributed a double-double performance consisting of 18 kills and 13 digs. Emma Patard and Anaïs Reneaum followed with 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Sami Kim topped all players with a career-best 14 digs. Ellie Asada matched her uniform number by settling 11 digs of her own.

Skye Higashihara dazzled in the front court as the first-year dished 50 assists for Bates, the first Bobcat to do so since Emma Eide reached the 50-mark in a five-set match at the University of Southern Maine back on Oct. 27, 2021.

Bates (3-1) now looks ahead to Saturday when the Bobcats participate in a tri-match, hosted by Smith College. The garnet-and-white will take on Salem State University at 2:00 p.m., followed by a 4:00 p.m. contest vs. the Pioneers.