The friendly confines of the Hawk Center will host the final SUNYAC test for the State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team this weekend as the Hawks take on the Knights of Geneseo and the defending conference champion Golden Eagles of The College at Brockport. Already assured of a SUNYAC playoff spot for the 16th consecutive season, SUNY New Paltz hope to have strong showings against both clubs will move them higher in tournament seeding and potentially secure a first-round bye with a pair of victories.

"Pulling out two wins this weekend would give us a lot of confidence and it would give us the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, which would be awesome," said SUNY New Paltz senior libero/defensive specialist Nicole Cooke. "In practice we've been focusing on us a lot, rather than the other team and [focus] on our own play and I think that's been very beneficial for us."

 

Geneseo comes to the Hawk Center with an overall record of 11-8 and a strong 6-1 SUNYAC mark with its lone loss coming against conference leader SUNY Cortland by a 3-2 margin. Since their first meeting in 1984, the Knights hold a slim 15-13 series record over the Hawks with the latter losing a heartbreaking, five set match to Geneseo in 2019. 

However, SUNY New Paltz do have fairly recent fond memories against the Knights, as it defeated Geneseo on its home floor in 2018 to claim the program's third SUNYAC title. The only two players who remain from that championship winning team is Cooke, and fellow senior Hannah Miller. Ironically, the two will be honored prior to their match against the Knights on Senior Night.
"I think it definitely feels like it's full circle, since we beat them in SUNYAC's my freshmen year and we're playing them on our senior night this year," Cooke said. "I think it would feel really good for us to come out with the win on Senior Night."

Tops for Geneseo is junior outside hitter Isabella Imbo (Bayport, NY) with 179 kills, 109 digs and 16 service aces. Junior libero Emily Haber (East Northport, NY), a SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Week selection on Monday, follows with 367 digs and 24 service aces. Senior setter Morgan Michalski (Cheektowaga, NY) leads the team with 481 assists and 21 service aces, while middle blocker Jackie Borland (West Sand Lake, NY) paces the team in blocks with 60 to go along with her 107 kills on the season.

As a team, the Knights are averaging 10.06 kills per set, 9.13 assists per set, 1.69 blocks per set and 2.07 service aces per set, 16.36 digs per set, with a .153 hitting percentage.

The defending Golden Eagles currently stand tied for third in the conference standings with a 14-6 overall mark and a 5-2 SUNYAC record. Their two SUNYAC losses are to Geneseo (3-2) and Cortland (3-1). Brockport holds a 20-9 series record against the Hawks, defeating SUNY New Paltz 3-1 in the 2019 season.

The Golden Eagles two-time All-SUNYAC selection and last week's SUNYAC Offensive Player of the Week, Meaghan Mastro (MH, GR, Apalachin, NY) has 201 kills, 87 digs, and 53 blocks. Joining her with a team leading 216 kills, 151 digs and 20 blocks is senior outside hitter Andrea Coyle (Caledonia, NY). Senior setter Kerri McHale (Carthage, NY) leads the team with 408 assists along with 34 service aces and 136 digs. Junior defensive specialist Madelyn Bowen (Panama, NY) paces the team with a team-most 244 digs, while senior defensive specialist Shelby Budnick (Detroit, MI) is tops with 42 service aces, while also adding 204 digs. Sophomore setter Ashley Allen (Leesburg, VA) follows with 219 assists.

Brockport is averaging 12.17 kills per set, 11.24 assists per set, 15.80 digs per set, 1.49 blocks per set, and 2.44 service aces per set, with a .203 hitting percentage — second only to Cortland's .238.

The Hawks currently stand tied for third with Brockport in the SUNYAC standings with a 5-2 record. Overall, they are 10-10 on the season with six matches left in the 2021 season. Last weekend, SUNY New Paltz split its SUNYAC doubleheader, losing to first place Cortland in straight sets, but coming back to defeat Oswego State, 3-1.
Sophomore middle hitter Letisha Perez (Dominican Republic) leads the team with 143 kills, to go along with 44 blocks and 10 service aces. Sophomore setter Cate DiGiacomo (West Hartford, CT) is tops with 449 assists, with 22 service aces and 131 digs. Junior libero Mia Waddell (Clifton Park, NY) has 283 digs, with 19 service aces and 33 assists, while sophomore outside hitter Mackenzie Williams (Windsor, NY) has 125 kills, 20 service aces, and 128 digs. Junior middle hitter Victoria Konicki (Voorhessville, NY) is tops with 50 blocks and also has 107 kills, while sophomore setter Dana Collins (Far Hills, NJ) adds 111 assists and junior right side hitter Makenzie Bills (Farmington, NY) has 31 blocks with 84 kills.

As a team, the Hawks have averaged 10.49 kills per set, 9.53 assists per set, 1.70 service aces per set, 14.32 digs per set, 172 blocks per set, with a .127 hitter percent.

"It's definitely going to be emotional," said Cooke on playing what could be her last SUNYAC games in the Hawk Center this weekend. "It's very weird. It doesn't feel real, but I'm excited for the weekend in general especially because it's Brockport and Geneseo. I think we have a really good chance of winning and pulling out the second seed."

SUNY New Paltz is set to host the Knights in the Hawk Center Friday at 6 p.m. before coming back to its home floor for a 1 p.m. match against the Golden Eagles Saturday. The Hawks will sport green during their matchup against Brockport in support of mental health awareness. To read more on how to donate, click here.

Nicole Cooke Interview - Geneseo/Brockport Preview


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