New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz earned a huge United Volleyball Conference victory over No. 13 nationally ranked St. John Fisher College Saturday in the Hawk Center with the Hawks defeating the Cardinals in a hard-fought three-set match.
 
The No. 14 ranked Hawks stayed undefeated in UVC play with the victory, as their strong serving helped catapult them to the victory with Spulnick leading the way after registering eight aces in the match — the second time in three games he recorded eight services aces, as he totaled the same during a four-set win over St. Joseph's-Long Island Feb. 10. Eight aces in a three-game match also lands the Clifton Park, NY native in the program's single-match record books for the second time, ranking 10th and the most in a three-set match since 2010.
 
The game swung early in the first set with the game tied at nine. SUNY New Paltz closed out a long rally with Spulnick and freshman Evan Kane diving to keep the ball alive before the Hawks closed out the point on a huge solo block by Pat Wing to give them the lead, which they never let go of the rest of the set. The side-out also allowed Spulnick to step in to serve with the senior blasting three-straight aces the Cardinals couldn't handle to bump up the score to 13-9 and force the visitors into their first timeout.
 
SUNY New Palt took an eight-point lead after scoring four-straight points, which was started on a block by Chris Shanley. Kyle Shaffer served the next three points, resulting in kills by Kane sandwiched between a double block by Kane and John Ronan. Shaffer set Wing six points later who slammed a kill down to get his team to set point and although St. John Fisher worked its way to within six, Shaffer found Wing again in the middle to close out the first set victory, 25-18.
 
 
Spulnick opened up the second by serving the first three points where he tallied two more aces to help SUNY New Paltz get in front early. The Cardinals earned their first lead midway through the set, scoring four-straight points, but a kill by Wing helped the Hawks side out and tie the score at 13. The two teams traded points, until a serving error ignited a 3-0 run for SUNY New Paltz with Spulnick and Kane each registering kills to push the lead to 18-15. The Hawks were in control the rest of the way and held a five-point lead at 23-18 following a dump by Shaffer to record the kill. Shaffer set Kane on the right side a point later to get them to set point with Wing putting the end to the set, serving for ace at 25-19.
 
SUNY New Paltz trailed early in the third, but Spulnick once again changed the momentum of the game. With St. John Fisher serving long, it gave the ball to Spulnick who was the catalyst of a 6-0 run for the Hawks. He tallied his seventh ace and forced the Cardinals into tough offensive opportunities that led to two kills by Shanley and Wing before notching his eighth ace of the match to tie the score at 12. Wing and Shaffer got up for a double block on the next point to push SUNY New Paltz ahead for the first time in the set. 
The third was tied three times, including at 18-all, before a three-point spurt gave the Hawks the advantage at 21-18 with Bryan Kaplan coming off the bench, serving for ace to aid in the lead. SUNY New Paltz held a 23-18 cushion, but the Cardinals gained back two points to cut the difference to 23-21. Shaffer set Wing once more in the middle with the junior smashing a kill to bring his team to match point, and just like he had done the first two sets, put the game away. Wing registered his 15th kill, helped fittingly, by Spulnick serving hard in to start the point.
 
The Hawks had one of their best offensive performances of the season, totaling 11 aces and hitting .337 on the day. Shaffer recorded 32 assists, three blocks, three digs and three kills. Wing had a team-best 15 kills on 19 attempts, while adding two blocks and four digs. Spulnick, Shanley and Kane followed with seven kills apiece with Kane also adding nine digs, just behind libero Dan LaRosa who finished with 12 and an assist in the victory.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back home Wednesday when it hosts Milwaukee School of Engineering and Sage in back-to-back games in the Hawk Center, starting at 4:30 p.m.

Highlights & Post-Game Interview featuring Brendan Spulnick


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