WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Hampton University sailing team finished third in the MAISA South Spring Qualifier on Saturday and Sunday hosted by the College of William & Mary, thus qualifying for the America Trophy.

This marks the third straight year in which the Pirates have qualified for the America Trophy.

Hampton finished with 55 points overall, tallying 27 points in the A Division and 28 points in the B Division. The University of Virginia won the regatta with 25 points.

The Pirates won a race in the A Division to go along with a second-place finish thanks to Giuditta Di Laghi and Albert Toledo, while also recording a win, a second-place finish and a third-place effort in the B Division with Kimannee Simon and Joshua Gopeesingh.

The America trophy, which is the MAISA championship, will be held on April 14-15 in Geneva, N.Y. and hosted by Hobart & William Smith Colleges. More than 80 schools from New York to South Carolina compete in MAISA, making it one of the nation's strongest sailing conferences.

The Pirates will return to action on Saturday and Sunday, when they return to Williamsburg, Va. for the William & Mary 2-on-2 Team Race. For more information on Hampton University sailing, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.