After a disappointing performance Wednesday against cross-river rival Vassar College, the State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team looks to sharpen its court skills this weekend at the Skidmore Classic.
The Hawks have made an appearance at the Thoroughbreds annual tournament for the 10th consecutive season. In 2019 New Paltz finished 2-1 at the classic, defeating Union 3-0 and Morrisville 3-2, and losing to host Skidmore 3-2.
SUNY New Paltz opens Classic action Friday afternoon against cross Hudson River rival Bard College. In a series that dates back to 1988, the Hawks are 11-0 against the Raptors.
Bard, 7-15 on the year and 1-6 in the Liberty League, lost its home finale Wednesday to SUNY Cobleskill, 3-0. Leading the Raptors in kills is sophomore outside hitter Ryan Lum (Honolulu, HI) with 146. She also leads the team in digs with 265 and service aces with 47. Sophomore setter Adi David (Wynnewood, PA) leads with 527 aces and is second in service aces with 31. With 41 blocks and 135 kills is sophomore middle blocker (Anna Shamser (Boise, ID). First-year middle blocker Precious Star (Wanaque, NJ) is second in blocks with 40 and sophomore Puja Clements (Seattle, WA) is second with 239 digs. 
Saturday's schedule opens with the Hawks facing the Dutchmen of Union College. Since their first meeting in 1977, the Hawks hold a 27-15 series lead over Union.
The Dutchmen are 5-16 on the year and 0-7 in the Liberty League. Last Saturday, Union concluded its home schedule with a 3-0 loss to St. Lawrence University. The Hawks and Dutchmen already faced off this year with SUNY New Paltz defeating Union 3-2 at the Johnson & Wales Tournament in early September.
Sophomore right side hitter Keara Page (Lowell, MA) is tops in kills with 130 for Union. Senior defensive specialist Jessica Siragusa (Rochester, NY) leads the team in both digs with 242 and service aces with 26. Junior setter Haley Kresch (Allendale, NJ) is first in assists with 310 and second in service aces with 19. Junior middle blocker Julie Webster (North Adams, MA) is tops with 31 blocks. Just behind the leaders are sophomore right side Morgan Bohlke (Glenville, NY) with 98 kills, sophomore defensive specialist Meredith Blinn (Amston, CT) with 143 assists, sophomore setter Brooke Fleming (Andover, MA) with 143 assists, and junior middle blocker Denesha Lafonant (Brockton, MA) with 29 blocks.
SUNY New Paltz will end the tournament against host Skidmore at 3 p.m. The Thoroughbreds hold a lifetime 12-16 mark against the Hawks with a 3-2 win in 2019.
Skidmore is entering the Classic coming off two weekend North Country losses: 3-0 to St. Lawrence Friday and 3-1 to Clarkson Saturday to drop its record to 10-15 and 3-4 in the Liberty League.
For the Thoroughbreds, senior outside hitter Zoe Beals (Sandy Hook, CT) leads with 188 kills. Elizabeth Miller, a junior outside hitter/defensive specialist (Hyde Park, NY) is tops with 314 digs and 36 service aces. Junior setter/right side Audrey Powell (Palos Verdes Estates, CA) is first with 435 assists and second with 33 service aces; sophomore right side Grace Aronson (Pelham Manor, NY) leads with 59 blocks. Finishing up the Thoroughbred leaders is junior outside Chelsea Winegar (Basking ridge, NJ) second with both 157 kills and 198 digs, with sophomore middle hitter Sophie Sacco (Schenectady, NY) is second with 43 blocks.
The Hawks, whose 3-1 loss to Vassar Wednesday dropped their overall record to 11-12, with a 6-3 SUNYAC record, are seeded fifth in the SUNYAC Tournament and travel to fourth seeded Fredonia Nov. 2 to begin first-round play.
Leading the Hawks with 186 kills is sophomore outside hitter Mackezie Williams (Windsor, NY). Williams stands second with 29 service aces and third with 166 digs. Junior libero Mia Wadell (Clifton Park, NY) tops with 345 digs and is third with 21 service aces. Sophomore setter Cate DiGiacomo (West Hartford, CT) leads in two categories, with 577 assists and 30 service aces.
With 59 blocks is junior middle hitter Victoria Konicki (Voorheesville, NY), while freshman middle hitter Letisha Perez (Dominican Republic) continues to impress, standing second in kills with 177 and blocks with 57 and fifth in service aces with 15.
The Hawks open up the Skidmore Classic Friday at 5 p.m. against Bard College.
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