Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. – The No. 2 State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team suffered its first defeat in over a calendar year as the Hawks fell at Hope International 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 26-28) on Wednesday night, snapping a 33-match winning streak.

The Hawks (1-1) last lost at NCAA Division II opponent University of Turabo 3-1 in Puerto Rico back on Jan. 16, 2016. Hope International, however, is an NAIA affiliated program, which means that New Paltz still holds a 33-match winning streak against NCAA Division III opponents.

The program record for a winning streak is 36-straight, set from 1985-87 including a perfect 30-0 mark in 1986.

New Paltz plays at Concordia (Calif.) on Thursday at 7 p.m. (PST) and closes out the West Coast trip at California Lutheran on Friday at 6 p.m. (PST).

Leading the offense on Wednesday night was junior middle blocker/outside hitter Ryan Cole (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East), who finished with a team-high 14 kills (.407). Junior outside hitter Anthony Bonilla (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) followed with 12 kills while senior middle blocker Steven Woessner (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) enjoyed nine.

Freshman setter Matthew Grace (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) distributed a match-best 48 assists and also provided 11 digs on the defensive end. Freshman libero Robert Nolan (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) registered nine digs as well.

Around the net, Woessner led the team with four blocks while Cole and junior middle blocker Nick Denoncourt (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) provided three blocks apiece.

For the Royals (4-1), who split with No. 1 Springfield on Jan. 13-14, three players finished with double-digit kills in Max Osmundson (15), Charles Belvin (12) and Zach Greene (11). Greene also added eight digs, three blocks and two aces.

In the first set, the Hawks trailed by four (14-10) but trimmed that deficit to just one (16-15), thanks to kills by Woessner and sophomore outside hitter Bradley Schneider (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport). New Paltz got to within one point (20-19) but the Royals were able to close out the opener 25-21.

New Paltz responded nicely with a 25-20 win in set number two. Knotted at 10-all, the Hawks enjoyed an 8-3 run due to kills from Cole and Woessner, to take an 18-13 lead. Bonilla floored two kills down the stretch to tie the match up at 1-1.

In the third set, the Hawks found themselves behind 13-6, which prompted a timeout. Following the break, New Paltz climbed to within five (15-10) and would later trim the Royal lead to two points (21-19) after a Denoncourt kill. Trailing 23-20, the Hawks scored two more points to claw within one (23-22) but a pair of kills by Hope's Osmundson put New Paltz in a 2-1 hole.

Despite losing the fourth set and the match, New Paltz battled back from a 17-11 hole and a 20-16 shortage to force extra points. Trailing 23-19, the Hawks knotted the set up at 23-all due to kills from senior middle blocker/opposite Jake Roessler (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) and Bonilla. The visitors were at set point twice (25-24) following a Bonilla kill and 26-25 after a Roessler execution. Unfortunately, the Royals responded with a 3-0 spurt to close out the set and match, 28-26.