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Box Score

FREDONIA, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team (27-10) passed its first test on the road to defending its 2009 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title Thursday afternoon at Dods Hall on the campus of SUNY Fredonia, besting Buffalo State (15-19), 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-18), in the quarterfinal round of the 2010 SUNYAC Volleyball Championship Tournament. 

This marks New Paltz's seventh straight win. During that streak, the Hawks have not lost a single set.

The Hawks, the East Division's No. 2 seed, will contest host Fredonia, the West Division's No. 1 seed, tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. in a semifinal match.

The Bengals jumped out to an early lead in the first set, but New Paltz rallied back, evening the score at 11. Both squads traded points the rest of the way, but the blue and orange finished strong and captured the first game.

Buffalo State could not keep pace with New Paltz in the second stanza, as the Hawks did not let their opponent get within four points of them at any point of the set.

Finally, New Paltz finished off Buffalo State in the third frame. The Hawks built an early lead, but the Bengals came within one at 15-14. New Paltz would rattle off eight of the next 12 points and ultimately would advance to the semifinal round.

Junior outside hitter Melinda DiGiovanna (West Hempstead, N.Y.) thrived both offensively and defensively, notching a double-double. She floored a match-high 11 kills in 24 total attempts with four errors for a .294 hitting percentage and added a match-high 21 digs. Freshman setter Brigid Moore (Victor, N.Y.) outset the entire Bengal team, as her 17 assists edged Buffalo State's team total of 16. Senior middle hitter Dana Kindelmann (Nesconset, N.Y.) and sophomore right side Eleanor Skovgaard (Pittsford, N.Y.) each had two block assists, fortifying the Hawks' blocking efforts.

For the Bengals, Sherrell McLean notched five kills, while Allyson Pierce and Rachel Algbedo each offered four. Chelsea Moore had a team-high 19 digs, while Stephanie Kazmierczak handed out 14 assists.

Buffalo State, which entered the tournament as the West Division's No. 3 seed, finishes its season with a mark of 15-19.