Box Score New York, NY — Losing its last two matches after a five game 3-0 winning streak, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team bounced back with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21) win on the road against New York University.
 
The Hawks continued their undefeated streak in the United Volleyball Conference (UVC), sitting at 6-0 on the year and 15-6 overall. SUNY New Paltz will come back to the Hawk Center Saturday to play St. John Fisher College in another UVC contest and Eastern Mennonite University.
 
"We started the match with no confidence and too many injured players," said Hawks coach Radu Petrus. "They came back with confidence in the second set and had a good strategy."
 
SUNY New Paltz came out slow in the first set, allowing NYU to gain a 4-1 lead. The Hawks came back, however, with a 4-1 run capped off with a kill by senior outside hitter Aaron Carrk to tie the set at five. 
 
With the Violets and SUNY New Paltz going back-and-forth throughout the beginning of the set, NYU gained a strong stride of momentum with three unanswered points to go up, 15-12. Although the Hawks cut the score, 18-16, they were never able to gain back the lead. The Violets sealed the set at 24-23 with a skill to take the 1-0 lead in the match.
 
SUNY New Paltz came out hot in the second set gaining an early 5-0 lead to force an NYU timeout. The Hawks continued to tack onto their lead, with a four-point unanswered run capped off with a kill by senior outside hitter Nick Smith, which put SUNY New Paltz up 13-7.
 
The Violets crept close to the Hawks, but never regained the lead. With SUNY New Paltz up 24-9, four unanswered points by NYU made things scary for the Hawks with their lead cut to 24-23. Another kill by Smith turned momentum back toward SUNY New Paltz's side, winning the set 25-23 and tying the match at one.
 
Going back-and-forth again with the Violet's early in the third set, the Hawks created separation with the set tied at 11, coming up with four unanswered points finished by a kill from Carrk to go up 15-11. Once again, NYU could not make a come back, never making a run to allow SUNY New Paltz to take the 2-1 lead in the match. Three unanswered points, including a kill by senior outside hitter Bradley Schneider was enough to put the Hawks up, 25-19.
 
SUNY New Paltz established itself in the fourth set, going up 8-5 after a Smith kill. The Violets ultimately could not keep up with the Hawks offense, as SUNY New Paltz ran up the slight lead at 21-17.
 
NYU brought the score close at 21-19, but the Hawks answered with a 3-1 run to go up 24-20 and force a Violets timeout. SUNY New Paltz sealed the set, 25-21, and took the match 3-1.
 
"Tomorrow's UVC match is the priority," Petrus said. "St. John Fisher is a good team, and a victory will keep us at the top of the conference. With a good serve we can push them out of their system."
 
The Hawks play Saturday against St. John Fisher College at 1 p.m. in the Hawk Center, followed by a 5 p.m. match with Mennonite University.

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