POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team made a short trip across the Mid-Hudson Bridge Wednesday to local rival Vassar College. Despite holding a 2-1 advantage, the Hawks were unable to pull out a five-set win and fell 25-23, 14-25, 25-22, 24-26, 18-20, respectively. 
 
"I thought we played very well in certain places and there are still spots we need to get more," said SUNY New Paltz coach Matt Giufre. "Offensively we need more consistency. Other than Maddie [Van Pelt] we just aren't getting enough from all of our positions. Defensively we were incredible. Olivia [D'Antonio] in particular was a rock in the back row and had an outstanding match. The fourth set we missed three, four chances to end the match from not being aware of the play and ultimately it cost us. The main thing is I really liked how we battled to the end."
 
With the setback, the Hawks fell to 13-12 overall (5-4 SUNYAC). On the other hand, the Brewers improved to 7-17 on the year (2-5 Liberty League). 
SUNY New Paltz began the game with an explosive 8-2 jump and forced Vassar College to take its first timeout of the set after a kill by senior Maddie Van Pelt. The Brewers went on a seven-point run to cut the score down to three, 13-10. Vassar College tied the set at 19 with the help of a kill from Sara Ehnstrom. Kills coming from senior Kerri Neville and Van Pelt improved the score 23-20. Junior Julie Greenspan's kill closed out set one and handed the Hawks a 25-23 win. 
 
The second set began with a kill from sophomore Courtney Gebhardt and an attack error gave SUNY New Paltz the first two opening points. The set was tied at five after a kill from Colette Cambey and a service ace from Claire Bialek. The Brewers captured their first lead of the set after a service error from Van Pelt changed the score 7-6. The Hawks were unable to catch up as Vassar College never lost momentum and comfortably captured a 25-14 set two after a kill from Ehnstrom. 
 
SUNY New Paltz opened up set three with a 5-1 mark after kills by junior Demi Herasme and Van Pelt. The foes made a comeback and evened the score at six, but blocks from Herasme and Gebhardt lifted the score for the Hawks, 13-11. The Brewers returned the favor as blocks by Jamie Kesten and Claire Basler-Chang brought their team back up and tied it at 13. A pair of kills from Van Pelt lifted the score 16-13, but two attack errors from SUNY New Paltz gave the foes a 17-16 lead. The set was leveled one final time at 21 after a service error from Neville, but a service error and kill by Gebhardt boosted the Hawks to a  23-21 cushion. A kill from Jennifer Kerbs brought Vassar closer, 23-22, but a service error and another kill from Van Pelt grabbed a 25-22 set three victory for SUNY New Paltz.
 
After allowing the Brewers to catch up and claim a tight 26-24 set four, which tied the game at two, the Hawks managed to get on top 3-1 to commence the final set as a result from a pair of kills by Gebhardt. Two attack errors brought Vassar College right back up to four and eventually a kill from Cambey gave the Brewers their first lead in set five. The foes tallied three-straight points to improve their advantage, 8-5. 
 
However, SUNY New Paltz went on a four-point run to retake the lead, 10-9,  with the assistance of a pair of kills by freshman Katie Steele and a kill by Greenspan. Basler-Chang and Kerbs answered for Vassar College, which pushed the hosts in front, 12-10, but kills by Herasme, Van Pelt and Gebhardt powered the Hawks back up, 14-13. 
 
Afterwards, both teams exchanged points in a back-and forth scoring affair. Steele's kill was the last point collected by SUNY New Paltz as Kasey Drake's service ace and Ehnstrom's kill took part of the 20-18 set five win, while at the same time stealing a 3-2 victory over the visiting Hawks. 
 
Van Pelt compiled a team- and career-high 24 kills and 24.0 points, along with 18 digs. Junior Haley Timarky paced the Hawks with 33 assists, while junior Olivia D'Antonio and senior Nicole Fellone both jotted down 24 digs each. Junior Caleigh Carr recorded a team-high four service aces, while Steele added 10 kills for the second time in three games. 
 
The Brewers completed the matchup with a higher hitting percentage (.215) than SUNY New Paltz (.146). 
 
The Hawks will have a day off before returning to action Nov. 1 when they head to Saratoga Springs, NY to participate in the Skidmore Invitational. SUNY New Paltz will encounter Union College, Morrisville State College and the hosting Thoroughbreds, respectively, to close out the regular season. 

To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.