Box Score Saratoga Springs, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team found the win column once again Friday, beating Lasell College, 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-13), in day one of the Skidmore College Invitational.
 
The win moves the Hawks to 24-6 on the year, returning Saturday to face Morrisville State College and Skidmore College in their last regular season matches of the year.
 
"It was great to play a clean match from start to finish, and get strong contributions from all 15 players," said Hawks Head coach Matt Giufre. "We did a nice job tonight of keeping an aggressive mindset even after losing points." 
 
Jumping out to a 6-2 lead in the first set, SUNY New Paltz was determined to bounce back from the loss to Vassar College in its last match. When the Lasers pulled within three early, a kill by junior middle hitter Kerri Neville started a four-point run for the Hawks, putting momentum back on their side with a 12-5 lead.
 
SUNY New Paltz continued to score thoroughly, extending its lead to as much as 12 and never allowing Lasell College to come behind by less than five within the rest of the set. The Hawks took a 1-0 advantage, 25-14.
 
Allowing the Lasers to gain a 5-2 lead in the second, a bad set allowed SUNY New Paltz to tie the set at nine. A kill by junior outside hitter Madison Van Pelt started a nine-unanswered point run for the Hawks, taking back the set at 17-9.
 
With SUNY New Paltz up 22-12, Lasell College attempted a come back, fighting until the end to come within six at 23-18. The effort was not enough, as the Hawks went up 2-0 with a second set win, 25-19.
 
After SUNY New Paltz gained an early lead in the third, the Lasers fought back to tie the set at eight. A service error by Lasell College led to two service aces by sophomore setter Haley Timarky, topped off by another Van Pelt kill, to put the Hawks up 12-8.
 
At 12-9, a Van Pelt kill caused another run for the Hawks, as multiple bad sets by the Lasers gave SUNY New Paltz a 16-9 lead. The Hawks finished the match off strong, winning, 25-13.
 
"There has been tremendous growth in the skill level of everyone on our team," Giufre said. "We're seeing that translate into quality play in games, and it's really a testament to how hard everyone works everyday."

The last set of matches on the regular season schedule for SUNY New Paltz begin at 12 p.m., when the Hawks face the Mustangs, before returning to the court at 2:30 p.m. to face the hosting Thoroughbreds.

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