Box Score New Paltz, NY — A 33-31 third set victory was not enough for the State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team to come back from a 2-0 deficit against Springfield College Wednesday, losing to the Pride 3-1 (20-25, 21-25, 33-31, 20-25).
 
The Hawks fought hard throughout the match, but could not build up enough momentum to overtake the No. 1 ranked team in the country. SUNY New Paltz moves to 9-4 on the year, and will continue United Volleyball Conference (UVC) play this weekend when the Hawks host the SUNY New Paltz Tri-Match against Elmira College, Augustana College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 
 
"There's a lot of room for improving," said SUNY New Paltz coach Radu Petrus. "This type of match cannot motivate our players, but can motivate us as coaches to work on what we can improve."
 
Keeping the score close early in the first set, a kill by senior outside hitter Bradley Schneider tied the set at five for the Hawks. Springfield College answered with a 6-1 run, however, jumping out in front 11-6 and forcing coach Petrus to call his first timeout.
 
Aaron Carrk kept thing close at 13-15 after a pair of kills, but the Pride came back again with three unanswered points to go up 18-13. With SUNY New Paltz behind, Springfield pushed forward to take a 25-20 set victory, and go up 1-0 in the match.
 
The Hawks stayed within the set again in the second, with a service ace by senior outside hitter Nick Smith giving them an 11-10 lead. Two come-back points by the Pride, however, forced Petrus to call another timeout, knowing his team could contend with Springfield College.
 
With the Hawks staying within two points throughout, down 20-21, the Pride took full advantage of the set with three unanswered points to go up 24-20. Springfield College won the second set 25-21, and grabbed control of the match up 2-0.
 
Down 12-8 in the third set against the Pride, a kill by Carrk sparked a 4-1 run for SUNY New Paltz, coming behind by one, down 13-12 and forcing the Pride to call a timeout of their own. With the Hawks down by two at 23-21, four unanswered points gave SUNY New Paltz set point, and a shot to get back in the match.
 
Going back and forth with Springfield College, the Hawks had their backs against the wall when the Pride went up 31-30. A kill by junior middle blocker Nick O'Malley pushed the Hawks in the right direction, however, as they scored three unanswered points to take the set, 33-31, and win their first set in the match to go behind 2-1.
 
SUNY New Paltz could not continue its momentum into the fourth set, falling behind 8-4, resulting in an early Hawks timeout. A 4-1 run started by a Smith kill brought SUNY New Paltz back in the set down, 13-11, and forced Springfield College to call a timeout of their own.
 
The Hawks stayed close behind, trailing 16-15, but three more unanswered points by the Pride put Springfield College up 19-15, and forced another SUNY New Paltz timeout. With the Hawks stumbling, the Pride pushed to a 25-20 set victory and a 3-1 win.
 
"In my opinion we have a lot of potential," Petrus said. "But we aren't using it."
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to action this weekend at the Hawk Center when the Hawks take on Elmira College at 9 a.m. and Augustana College at 1 p.m. Saturday. They return Sunday to take on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 12 p.m.

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