Box Score New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team had a tough task of taking on Steven Institute of Technology, which is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA New York region and top-45 in the nation by AVCA coaches.
 
It was a tight first two sets between the Hawks (6-3) and the Ducks (6-3) with Stevens taking the first set, 25-23, and SUNY New Paltz coming back to take the second set, 26-24. However, after a dominating fourth set by the Ducks, 25-15, SUNY New Paltz couldn't stretch the match into a fifth set, as Stevens won the fourth, 25-22, to take the win, 3-1.
 
SUNY New Paltz led for most of the first, but the Ducks overcame a four-point deficit to take the lead, 16-15, after tying the match at 15. Although the Hawks cut the score, 24-23, out of a timeout late in the set, Stevens finished with the, 25-23, win.
 
The Ducks took their momentum into the second set and led for most of the frame, but the Hawks fought back to tie the score at 24-all. SUNY New Paltz then finished out the second with a Haley Timarky back set to Julie Greenspan who smashed down a kill to give her team a 26-24 win to tie up the game at a set apiece. 
 
However, after a lopsided third set with Stevens winning handily, the Hawks made a rally in the fourth, but could not push the game into a deciding fifth set and took just their third loss of the season.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Friday and Saturday, competing in the Ramapo Tournament. The Hawks will take on Penn State Harrisburg and Bard College in its first slate of games at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively, before ending the tournament against Mount Aloysius College and the host Roadrunners at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively, Sunday.

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