Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Mahwah, NJ -- The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team started off the weekend strong, beating Penn State Harrisburg 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-13) and Bard College 3-1 (25-15, 25-18, 25-23, 25-13) in the first day of the Ramapo College tournament.
 
The Hawks move to 7-3 on the year, and will finish the tournament Saturday with two matches against Mount Aloysius College and Ramapo College.
 
"I'm pleased we were able to learn from and move past the tough loss on Wednesday," said Hawks coach Matt Giufre. "We worked a lot on our offense in practice yesterday, and it paid some dividends today."
 
Getting off to a slow start in the first match of the day, SUNY New Paltz found itself behind the Nittany Lions 7-10 in the first set. A kill by junior outside hitter Madison Van Pelt, which made the score 8-10, got the offense going. The Hawks followed with seven unanswered points to take the lead at 15-10.Out-hitting Penn State Harrisburg .189 to .026 in the set, SUNY New Paltz took an 1-0 advantage after the 25-18, victory.
 
While the Hawks jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead in the second, Penn State Harrisburg hovered close behind SUNY New Paltz throughout the set. As the Nittany Lions crept back to make it 18-15, a kill by junior outside hitter Kerri Neville swung momentum back onto the Hawks' side. They went on to score four more unanswered points, extending their lead to 23-16. Never giving up the lead in the set, SUNY New Paltz won, 25-17.
 
Five unanswered points in the third set to make it 17-9 sealed the deal for the Hawks. In total control, they won the set 25-13, and the match 3-0.
 
With Bard coming into the match having lost to Ramapo College earlier in the day 0-3 (10-25, 18-25, 18-25), the Raptors opened up the first set against SUNY New Paltz with a quick 3-0 advantage. With the set tied at eight, a kill by senior outside hitter Taylor Cimillo got the Hawks rolling again, who would go on to score eight more unanswered points, taking the lead 17-8. The run proved too much for Bard, as SUNY New Paltz won the set, 25-15.
 
The Hawks took an early lead in the second set, but five unanswered points quickly shifted momentum back to the Raptors, who gained a 14-13 lead. Once again, SUNY New Paltz's offense stepped up, going on an 8-1 run to make it 21-15 Hawks. Kills by senior setter Meredith Dignan, sophomore outside hitter Julie Greenspan, and Neville sealed the seat for SUNY New Paltz, 25-17.
 
Entering the third up 2-0, the Hawks never gained the lead in the set. With the Raptors biggest lead throughout the set at six, a late kill by freshman middle hitter Shannon Thomas to make it 24-23 was not enough for the Hawks, dropping the set 25-23.
 
The Hawks went up 7-6 in the fourth set, but followed with six unanswered points that was capped off by a Dignan kill to put the momentum on SUNY New Paltz's side.
 
A close fourth set at 7-6 Hawks, was followed by six unanswered points, which was capped off by a Dignan kill, put momentum on SUNY New Paltz's side, making the score 13-6. The Hawks kept extending their lead and ultimately winning the set 25-13, and the match 3-1.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to action at 1 p.m. Saturday when they will face Mount Aloysius College. They will finish off the tournament against Ramapo College at 3 p.m.
 
"As a coaching staff, we chose to focus completely on our side of the net this weekend," Giufre said. "We're focusing on defending with maximum effort every rally, and working diligently on making our set location and hitter tempo crisper. That will give us our best chance to win tomorrow and going forward."
 
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.