New Paltz, NY -- The State University of New York at New Paltz 2021 women's volleyball schedule was released Thursday, as the team looks to recapture the success that eluded them in 2019 after clinching the program's third conference championship in 2018. 

Returning to 2018 form will be on the minds for the women, but in a year removed since competition (2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) the roster will be virtually anew. In his 20th season at the helm for the Hawks, head coach Matt Giufre lined up a tough schedule for his young team that begins at Western Connecticut State Sept. 1, whom they defeated 3-1 on Senior Day in 2019. They then will venture to Providence, RI where they will play in the Johnson & Wales Tournament. In a rematch of their 2018 tournament NCAA Tournament contest that saw the Hawks fall in straight sets 3-0, they will no doubt be looking to avenge that loss when they battle the Wildcats Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. SUNY New Paltz will play a total of four matches in the J&W Tournament, the other three contests being against Union, Babson, and Clarke.

The Hawks Invitational, held at home court in the Hawk Center, runs Sept. 10 and 11, with the Hawks playing three matches over two days. Following its annual home invitational, SUNY New Paltz will play at SUNY Oneonta Sept. 14  for their first conference match of the year. The Hawks will look to avenge 2019's SUNYAC quarterfinal defeat at the hands of the Red Dragons. From Oct. 8-16, SUNY New Paltz will play four consecutive road conference matches, including an Oct. 22 home contest (6 p.m.) against SUNY Geneseo, who went a perfect 9-0 in the SUNYAC in 2019. To close out the regular season, they will compete in the Skidmore Classic on the campus of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, taking on Bard College, Union College and the hosting Thoroughbreds, respectively on Oct. 29 and 30. 

The SUNYAC Tournament begins with the quarterfinal round Nov. 2, with the host venues being those of the number three and four seeds.The SUNYAC semifinals and championship matches are scheduled back-to-back on Nov. 5 and 6 at the highest remaining seed. 

To view the full Hawks' women's volleyball schedule, click here.
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