Box Score

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Despite trailing 2-1, the women's volleyball team at the State University of New York at New Paltz battled back and won the next two sets, defeating Ithaca 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 15-25, 25-22, 18-16) on Friday night in the opening game of the Skidmore Invitational.

The Hawks (17-11) won the opening set before dropping the next two to the Bombers (22-5), who are the No. 2 ranked team in the New York Region. With their backs against the wall, New Paltz was able to force a fifth and deciding set in which they won, 18-16.

New Paltz will play another tough opponent tomorrow in Union, ranked No. 5 in the New York Region at 12 p.m., followed by a match with host Skidmore at 2 p.m. to wrap up the weekend and the regular season before hosting Oswego in the SUNYAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Senior middle hitter Morgan Roessler (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) had a great, all-around match as she led the team in kills (12), aces (7) and blocks (6). Junior setter Maddie Zwickl (Chester, NY/Warwick Valley) distributed 30 assists while senior Anna Paulik (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) led the team with 14 digs while chipping in nine kills.

Junior libero Veronica Matedero (Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge) tallied 11 digs and seven aces while freshman Maddie Van Pelt (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) recorded nine kills on the night against the Bombers.

In the opening set, the Hawks burst out of the gates up 6-1 and increased their lead to 12-4. The Bombers chipped away and climbed to within 16-12 but New Paltz went on a 5-0 run to claim a 21-12 advantage. Following a 4-0 spurt by Ithaca (21-16), the Hawks went to set point, 24-17 before another 4-0 run by the Bombers forced New Paltz to take a timeout, leading 24-21. Following the talk, the Hawks were able to close out the first set 25-21.

The Hawks enjoyed a 5-3 lead to begin set number two before the Bombers went on an 8-4 run to go ahead 11-9. New Paltz got to within one point (16-17) before Ithaca pulled away with an 8-1 run to close out the set.

In set number three, the Hawks found themselves trailing 5-1 and would fall behind 15-8. Ithaca proved to be too strong in this stanza and used several runs to win this period, 25-15.

Needing to win the fourth set, the Hawks jumped out to a 6-2 lead but surrendered that advantage as Ithaca knotted the contest at 7-7. New Paltz then went on a 6-2 spurt to enjoy a 13-9 cushion before the Bombers answered and got within two (16-14). The Hawks stayed strong, however, and were able to take this set and force a fifth and deciding period.

The fifth set was tightly contested and back-and-forth with New Paltz clinging to an 8-7 lead at the turn. The Bombers jumped ahead periodically 9-8 and 11-10 but the Hawks used a 4-0 run to take a 14-11 lead to force match point. Ithaca would not back down and went on a 4-0 run of their own to take match point in favor of the Bombers, 15-14. New Paltz was able to outscore Ithaca 5-1 for the duration of the match, and capped of the come-from-behind win with a Roessler kill to claim the fifth set.