New Paltz, NY -- Despite taking the second and third sets of the game to gain a 2-1 advantage, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team dropped a five set game against rival SUNY Geneseo (18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 17-25, 10-15) Saturday in a roaring Hawk Center. 

The Hawks dropped its third straight game and fell to 8-10 overall (3-4 SUNYAC), while the Knights rise up to 12-8 on the year and a perfect 6-0 conference record.  

"I thought after last nights loss we came out with a very hungry and aggressive style and maintained it through the match" said SUNY New Paltz coach Matt Giufre. "I'm very proud of how we competed and thought we gave ourselves a chance to win and didn't have breakdowns that hurt us. We just couldn't maintain the physical level we needed through the latter part of the match. We will keep working at it and find a way through it."
 

Although SUNY Geneseo grabbed the first set, 25-18, the Hawks came back from behind after the Knights worked on a 4-5 lead. SUNY New Paltz scored three consecutive points as a kill from Maddie Van Pelt, a kill by Emily Visintini, and an attack error from Alexandra Frank put the Hawks up front, 7-5. SUNY New Paltz maintained the lead up until a kill from Abby May tied the score at 19. The Hawks regained the lead as a kill by Makenzie Bills, an attack error, and a service from Visintini gave SUNY New Paltz a 22-19 advantage. A kill coming from Caleigh Carr and a service ace by Bills closed out the second set to hand the Hawks its first set victory, 25-21.

SUNY New Paltz began the third set by compiling a 6-4 lead after kills from Hannah Miller and Van Pelt, along with an attack error from the Knights. The foes made a comeback after Grace Cergol's kill tied the set at 15. Both teams exchanged points in a back-and-forth affair, but two straight kills from Cergol gave SUNY Geneseo a 17-19 lead. After tying the score once again, a kill from Van Pelt helped regain a 20-19 mark. The Knights retook the lead as a kill from Maddie McLaughlin changed the score 22-23. Visintini's kill tied the set again at 23 and two attack errors gave the Hawks another win, 25-23. 

SUNY New Paltz wasted no time in constructing a 6-1 advantage to commence the fourth set. An attack error from the Hawks cut their lead to 8-9 and SUNY Geneseo took the opportunity to gain its first lead of the set, 9-11. A pair of kills from Bills evened the score at 11 and a kill from Kerri Neville and a service ace from Nicole Fellone combined for a 14-11 mark. The Knights recovered and scored five consecutive points to jump right back up, 14-16. The Hawks could not find an answer to SUNY Geneseo's offense and closed out the fourth set, which concluded 17-25, scoring eight straight points. 

In the final set of the game, the Knights kept the offense rolling and quickly established a 1-5 lead. SUNY Geneseo was unstoppable throughout the duration of the set after building a 7-14 score. Despite the Knights being only one point away from winning the game, SUNY New Paltz earned three straight points to cut the score 10-14. Cergol had the final say, as a kill ended the set, 10-15, and the matchup to keep her team undefeated in conference play. 

"Our offense broke down in passing, setting and hitting and it caused us to be too reactive", added Giufre. "Geneseo was then able to run their full offensive weapons and it's too much to constantly be on the defensive against a team like that."

Van Pelted collected 18 kills, 23 digs and two blocks. Haley Timarky paced the Hawks with 27 assists, while Fellone led with 24 digs and added three service aces of her own. Visintini finished with four service aces.

SUNY New Paltz will look to break its losing streak as it hosts SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh State Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, respectively, for the final pair of SUNYAC matches of the season in the Hawk Center.