Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The 12th-ranked State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team (12-4, 6-3 UVC) was handed a 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-15) loss to No. 14 Elmira College (15-11, 5-4 UVC) on Sunday afternoon in United Volleyball Crossover (UVC) play at Nazareth College. The loss coupled with a win by New York University foiled the Hawks' chances at hosting the 2012 UVC Tournament. This year's tournament will be held by the top team in the East Division.

New Paltz played its third consecutive match without senior middle blocker Kevin Stross (Port Washington, N.Y./Paul D. Schreiber), and the Soaring Eagles took advantage. Elmira had 11 team blocks compared to New Paltz's five, while the Hawks missed Stross' serve, too, as New Paltz landed just one service ace to Elmira's six. As a team, the Soaring Eagles hit .238, while the Hawks hit at a .209 clip.

The Hawk offense was powered by sophomore outside hitter Brian O'Connor (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland), who carried the team on his shoulders with a .500 hitting percentage (13-1-24) and a match-high 13 kills. Sophomore setter Misa Garo (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) dished out 24 assists as the team's setter and also accounted for New Paltz's lone service ace. Defensively, Garo posted a team-high seven digs, while sophomore setter/outside hitter Brian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had a block solo and a block assist.

For Elmira, Wyatt Hamilton was the lone player to reach double-digit kill figures, flooring 10 on the match. Michael Vellutato doled out 27 assists, while Hamilton registered three service aces. Vellutato did a little bit of everything defensively, boasting match-highs in digs with eight and blocks with four (two solo, two assist).

New Paltz looks to get back to its winning ways on Wednesday, March 14, as it travels down to New York City to face Baruch College in an 8 p.m. non-conference match.