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HOBOKEN, N.J. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team (17-4, 4-0 SUNYAC) is gaining a reputation of being a comeback team, and with good reason: Friday evening was another example of the squad's propensity to pull out matches after being down two sets.

After dispatching Baruch College, 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-22), in their opening match of the Ducks Invitational, the Hawks met up with a formidable squad from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the nightcap. After trailing two games to none, the blue and orange rallied to take the final three, stunning the Engineers in a five-set thriller, 3-2 (21-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-5, 15-7). 

The Hawks have now won 12 straight matches.

Against Baruch, the Hawks had little trouble, taking each of the three sets with relative ease. Sophomore middle hitter Dana Vosilla (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) and sophomore right side Michelle Jacobson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) each had nine kills, while freshman setter Marissa King (Canandaigua, N.Y.) dished out 18 assists. Freshman libero Carrie Hack (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) led the squad with nine digs, while junior outside hitter Melinda DiGiovanna (West Hempstead, N.Y.) and sophomore outside hitter Kelly Lavender (Apalachin, N.Y.) followed closely behind with seven apiece.

Reminiscent of New Paltz's five-setter with Clarkson University on Sept. 18 in the Hawks Invitational, the Engineers and Hawks battled in a match that pitted two elite teams against each other. MIT appeared headed toward a three-set victory, winning the first two sets by identical scores of 25-21.

The blue and orange had different designs about the contest's final outcome, though, as it showed heart in a 25-23 win in the third set. Nothing went right for MIT in the fourth set, as New Paltz thumped the Engineers, 25-5. Deflated heading into the deciding frame, MIT allowed the Hawks to mount an early advantage and could not muster a comeback bid, as New Paltz captured the fifth and final game by a count of 15-7.

As would be expected from a five-set affair, a number of Hawks posted gaudy figures. Four different New Paltz players recorded double figures in digs, while three Hawks landed double figures in kills. Lavender, DiGiovanna and King all earned double-doubles.

DiGiovanna had a monster match, notching 13 kills on 38 attempts while collecting a team-high 25 digs and three blocks. Lavender's 15 kills led the attack, while her 17 digs gave the defense a boost. Senior middle hitter Dana Kindelmann (Nesconset, N.Y.) supplied 10 kills and two blocks, while King handed out a team-high 27 assists and added 10 digs. Hack continued to fare well in her duties as the libero, racking up 18 digs.

Tomorrow's Ducks Invitational slate presents another challenge for the Hawks, as they take on the Stevens Institute of Technology at 9 a.m. before squaring off with Polytechnic University at noon.