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BUFFALO – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team (32-7, 6-2 SUNYAC East) seeks to earn its second State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title in program history at this weekend's 2012 SUNYAC Volleyball Championship Tournament at Buffalo State, as the Hawks earned the East Division's No. 2 seed. The Hawks match up with host Buffalo State (25-7, 6-0 SUNYAC West), the West Division's top seed, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, in the semifinal round.

TICKET PRICING: Tickets for Saturday's semifinal match are $6 for adults and free for students with valid college identification.

STATISTICAL LEADERS: New Paltz has received various contributions this year and has numerous student-athletes ranked among the top in the SUNYAC. Senior outside hitter Michelle Jacobson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson) accounts for most of the team's offense, leading the squad and ranking third in the league in kills per set (3.12, 434 total). Senior middle hitter Dana Vosilla (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa), who ranks fifth in the SUNYAC in hitting percentage (.301), fortifies the middle offensively, as she, too, has the ability to score with 2.44 kills per set. Freshman outside hitter Becca Borquist (Rhinebeck, N.Y./Rhinebeck) has been a staple for the Hawks from the get-go, as she ranks sixth in the league in kills per set with 2.73 (361 total). In addition, Borquist is third on the team in digs per set with 3.42 (452 total). Junior setter Marissa King (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua Academy) has kept the offense running all season, ranking second in the SUNYAC in assists per set with 10.46 (1,464 total). On the back row, junior libero Carrie Hack (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) leads the way with 5.16 digs per set (707 total), which ranks second in the league.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Buffalo State and New Paltz have met seven times, with New Paltz holding a 5-2 lead in the series all-time. The Hawks are 1-1 against the Bengals all-time in SUNYAC Tournament play. New Paltz's last meeting with Buffalo State came in the quarterfinal round of the 2010 SUNYAC Volleyball Championship Tournament, where the Hawks won in straight sets. A lot rides on this match for both teams, as New Paltz is ranked third in the latest NCAA Division III New York Regional Rankings, while Buffalo State is sixth.

FINAL NUMBER FOUR: New Paltz has made the SUNYAC final for four consecutive years. The Hawks lost in the championships match in 2008 (to SUNY Fredonia), 2010 (to SUNY Cortland) and 2011 (to Cortland), but in 2009, New Paltz won the conference title.

26 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER: Since 2004, New Paltz has not won fewer than 26 matches. In addition, during that time, the Hawks have topped 30 wins on three occasions. They earned 32 wins in 2008, 33 wins in 2009 and have 32 wins so far this season.

EYEING THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: New Paltz has been absent from the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship Tournament the past two years, but before that draught started, the Hawks made the national tournament for two consecutive seasons. In 2008, New Paltz earned an at-large (Pool “C”) bid into the tournament and advanced to the national quarterfinals. In 2009, the Hawks earned the SUNYAC's automatic bid into the tournament and lost in the regional semifinals to Salisbury University. All-time, New Paltz is 4-2 at the NCAA Championships.

BREAKING RECORDS: Two New Paltz players have achieved program records so far this season. Hack is now the program's career digs leader with 1,864, while King owns the single-season assists record with 1,464 assists. Hack is 91 digs away from tying Belgica Santana's 1997 single-season record of 798 digs.

ABOUT HEAD COACH MATT GIUFRE: Matt Giufre, who is finishing up his 11th season at the helm of the New Paltz women's volleyball program, has been the architect of the Hawks' recent success. He took a program that went 9-23 the season prior to his arrival and built a winning tradition during his third year at the controls. Since 2004, Giufre's teams have had winning records. He is 291-135 during his career, and he has been named the SUNYAC Coach of the Year on three occasions (2004, 2006, 2009). Giufre has also mentored players who have constantly been tops in the East Division, as the divisional Player of the Year has come out of New Paltz in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009.

SCOUTING THE BENGALS: Buffalo State boasts NCAA Division III's top back row, which averages 22.1 digs per set. Leading the Bengals on defense is Chelsea Moore, who averages 6.35 digs per set (756 total). Sam Parente is the go-to option on offense, as she leads the Bengals in kills with 2.71 per set (298 total). Kelsey Bashore is the squad's primary setter, as she averages 8.07 assists per set (977 total). Maria DePeters is wrapping up her second season at the helm of the Buffalo State women's volleyball program.