Binghamton, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz hopes of a four-peat SUNYAC Championship run ended at the hands of SUNY Oneonta Saturday.
 
The Red Dragons upset the three-time reigning champion Hawks in a four-hour match with SUNY New Paltz suffering its first conference loss since 2017 after falling, 5-4 at the Binghamton Tennis Center.
 
"Unfortunately, they played a better game than us today," said Hawks coach Rob Bruley. "Every player left it all out there on the court, just came up a little short but we'll dust ourselves off and hopefully come back stronger next year."
 
SUNY New Paltz held a 2-1 lead after doubles play with Trinity Chow and Tatiana Barnett winning 8-6 at first doubles and Isabela van der Veen and Loretta Donovan earning a 8-4 win at third doubles. Second doubles duo Onalee Batcheller and Alexandra Dratch lost to the Red Dragons' Olivia Fraser and Rebecca Macdonald, 8-1.
 
In singles action, Chow fought back after losing the first set, 6-4 against Frasier in first singles. The senior battled to win set two, 6-3 before taking the third, 6-2. Van der Veen continued an impressive tournament and day, handling Macdonald at fourth singles with a 6-3, 6-1 victory. However, Oneonta tied the match with wins at third, fifth and sixth singles. Batcheller fell to Sophia Schutte, 6-4, 6-2 at threes, Barnett lost, 6-4, 6-0 to Maxie Karen at fives and Donovan took a 6-2, 6-2 defeat from Julia Holerman at sixes. 
The match ultimately came down to second singles with freshman Anya Barteck facing Oneonta senior captain Madeline Carswell. Barteck took the first set, 6-3, but after an extended second set, Carswell tied the match with a 7-5 win. She then closed the victory for the Red Dragons, winning the third set, 6-2.
 
"Excellent performance in the doubles and Isabel at four was excellent at her match," Bruley said. "I just think Oneonta was on their game a little bit today and played a little bit better than we did. Things just didn't go our way at times. Still a fantastic performance. It's tough, we always have that bullseye on us. Everyone wants to beat us."
 
The loss cements the end of a legendary run for the Hawks who for the past three-plus years dominated the SUNYAC. Leading the dynasty was senior Trinity Chow, who will end her career as the most decorated player in program history. Along with Chow, SUNY New Paltz graduates Dratch, a key member of the team since transferring into the program in 2019, while fellow senior Alex Chimenti will possibly be the lone veteran coming back from the storied run.
 
"It's a heartbreak for Trinity and Ali Dratch," Bruley said. "For Trinty, she put this program on the map in these last four years. Her work ethic every day at practice… she's been everything. She's been a fantastic ambassador not just for the program, but for the department and the College as well."

Chow earned a spot on the SUNYAC All-Tournament team, along with van der Veen. Chow and Barnett were named doubles All-Tournament team, as were van der Veen and Donovan. Oneonta's Carswell was given Tournament MVP honors. 

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