SUNY New Paltz Athletics

Cortland, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz took on top seeded SUNY Cortland with a SUNYAC Championship on the line Saturday in Corey Gymnasium.
 
The Hawks (21-8 overall) battled in an extended first set, led by junior middle Letisha Perez who dominated in the opening stanza. However, SUNY New Paltz couldn't close out in the first frame, allowing the Red Dragons to gain momentum after clinching a 28-26 victory before commanding the next two sets, 25-8 and 25-17, respectively to secure their third consecutive championship.
 
The first set saw five different lead changes with the score tied nine times. The Hawks knotted the score at 16 following a long rally with SUNY New Paltz playing strong at the net and ultimately the point ended with an attacking error allowing Melanie Podstupka to serve through what ended as a 6-0 run. Podstupka then came up big with the game tied once again at 22-22, selling out to get her hand on a tough swing by the Red Dragons, which resulted in a kill for the libero to push her team ahead, 23-22.
 
Mackenzie Williams and Lexi Stragalas got up for a block to get the Hawks to set point, but the Red Dragons countered with three-straight points to take the lead at 25-24. SUNY New Paltz held set point once more at 26-25 following back-to-back hitting errors by Cortland, but it couldn't capitalize as Cortland scored three-straight to clinch what turned into a game-shifting opening set.
 
 
SUNY New Paltz couldn't establish any momentum whatsoever in the second, as the Red Dragons scored six-straight points before Williams ended the scoreless stretch with a kill. The Hawks never regrouped though and got down by as many as 17, creating too large of a deficit to climb out of and dropped the second, 25-8.
 
Cortland got up 8-2 before Hawks coach Matt Giufre called his first timeout of the set. SUNY New Paltz sided out on the next point after the break, but the Red Dragons quickly answered with a kill from the outside. Perez helped win her team back serve with a hard swing resulting in a kill on a free ball over the middle, but the Red Dragons countered with a kill, getting through the hands of Perez and Williams who went up for a block.
 
Gifure used freshman Kim Braun for extra help defensively and the Garrison, NY native provided a spark, helping cut the deficit to seven at 13-6 as she laid out for a ball, which resulted in a point on an attacking error by the Red Dragons.
 
SUNY New Paltz got within six twice at 15-9 and again at 16-10, but a 5-0 run placed Cortland at match point. The Hawks didn't quit, however, and made the final stanza more interesting as they refused to let the game end. Perez started the run with a kill off an assist by Cate DiGiacomo, followed by back-to-back aces from Samantha Cox. Williams then smashed a ball for a kill before getting up on a block with Perez. She then capped the 6-0 run with a kill on a set by DiGiacomo, but the Red Dragons put an end to the spurt with a game-sealing kill to win the final set, 25-17.
 
SUNY New Paltz struggled offensively, hitting -.052 in the match. Williams led the team with 10 kills to go along with two blocks and eight digs for 11 points. Perez followed with six kills, an assist and a team-leading five blocks. DiGiacomo finished with 15 assists, two blocks and nine digs.
 
DiGiacomo and Williams were both named to the SUNYAC All-Tournament team.
 
SUNY New Paltz awaits the NCAA Tournament selection show Monday with the hopes of possibly earning an at-large bid. The Hawks were ranked third in the latest regional poll.
 
If Saturday was the final game of the season, it marked an end of an era for the program as they graduate a coveted senior class which includes Williams, DiGiacomo, Podstupka, Cox, Dana Collins, Victoria Venus and Kayleigh Emanuelson.
 
"They always went above and beyond to be ready for any opportunity that came," Giufre said. "No matter who was in that class or no matter who else came in, they made sure to let everyone know what the standard was and what the expectations are to be part of our team and be a part of their team and did it in a mentoring way. Relationships they built with their teammates was really profound and they were doing that as sophomores and juniors not just this year as seniors. When I think about the imprint, they left it's certainly great volleyball.
 
"There are certain individuals, Cate certainly, Mack certainly, who have been on the floor the entire time re-defined what you look for in those certain positions. They are both phenomenal people. You see them on the court and you're like, 'wow, they're fantastic players,' but they are triple the type of person than they are as a volleyball player. And the growth of the others… becoming confident young adults it's just really remarkable and I'm glad we have juniors and a sophomore and a big freshmen class in particular to see who it's possible to become in this program. They got to see what it takes to get to that point as a human being not just a volleyball player, but as a real genuine human being. When I look at them that's what I see, genuine, incredible human beings."

Game Highlights


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