Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

New Paltz, NY -- The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team swept 3-0 for the fifth weekend in a row following its two victories Saturday in day two of the Hudson Valley Quad Match, moving to 21-4 overall.

The Hawks returned home to beat Morrisville State College 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 25-27, 27-25), and Bard College 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-15).

"We played tough competition again this weekend," said SUNY New Paltz coach Matt Giufre. "We played three teams with three different styles and had to adapt to all of them. I'm proud of the girls for how they handled that." 

Getting off to a slow start, the Hawks allowed the Mustangs to take an early 8-4 lead in the first set. SUNY New Paltz climbed back to tie at eight, following with a four-unanswered point run filled with three kills by junior outside hitter Madison Van Pelt and one by junior middle hitter Kerri Neville to take the lead, 12-9.

A timeout by Morrisville State sparked a five-unanswered point run of its own, jumping back in front at 15-13. Tied again at 18, a senior outside hitter Taylor Cimillo kill shifted the set back on the Hawks side, as an attack error, Cimillo service ace, and Van Pelt kill put SUNY New Paltz in front, 21-19.

Up 23-20, three errors in a row by the Hawks tied the set back at 23. An attack error, followed by a senior setter Meredith Dignan service ace, gave SUNY New Paltz the 1-0 advantage at 25-23.

The tight set woke the Hawks up, jumping to a 9-4 lead in the second. SUNY New Paltz continued to score with vigor, gaining its largest lead at 15-6.

A five-unanswered point streak by the Mustangs, however, made the set competitive again, only trailing by three at 17-14.

Finishing strong up 19-15, two sophomore outside hitter Julie Greenspan kills, an attack error and a junior libero Nicole Fellone service ace put the Hawks in front, 23-15. SUNY New Paltz took a 2-0 lead at 25-19.

The Hawks showed they wanted to get out of the gym early in the third, taking a 10-4 lead to start the set. Never giving up, Morrisville State had a six-unanswered point run to tie back at 10.

In a set that featured 11 more ties, an attack error by the Mustangs made everything even at 25. Two attack errors by SUNY New Paltz, however, gave Morrisville State the set, 27-25.

With the Hawks up 13-8 in the fourth set, the Mustangs once again fought back to tie things even at 13. Back and forth throughout, SUNY New Paltz held the lead at 23-20. Another four-unanswered point run by Morrisville State put them in front 24-23, and momentum on its side.

With the Mustangs up 25-24, three attack errors gave the Hawks the set, 27-25, and the match, 3-1.

"Our win against Morrisville was tough, but we were able to pull through," Dignan said. "The big difference was our effort. Morrisville is a really good team, and it was really good competition. We're glad we got to play them."

Earning the hard-fought win, the Hawks asserted their dominance early in the second match against Bard College, taking a 11-4 lead in the first set. SUNY New Paltz continued to score in bunches, with a kill by junior outside hitter Emily Visintini and an attack error giving the Hawks the set, 25-14.

The second set was more of the same, as a six-unanswered point run capped off by kills from sophomore setter Haley Timarky and Van Pelt put SUNY New Paltz up, 15-4. Never taking the foot off the pedal, the Hawks took a 2-0 lead with the, 25-13 set win.

Using much of its bench throughout the match, SUNY New Paltz finished strong, taking another large lead in the third at 15-5. Not missing a beat, the Hawks defeated Bard College handily, winning the set 25-15 and the match, 3-0.

"There's times we've got to use opportunities to see who else we can count on in critical situations," said Giufre. "We've got 15 very good players on this team, and I needed to see who some spark plugs could be for us. You couldn't really tell that it was different faces, it was the same New Paltz."

The Hawks will return to State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) pool play Oct. 19 when they travel to SUNY Geneseo for last conference weekend of the season.

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