Springfield, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz suffered just its second loss of the season Wednesday night at Blake Arena, falling to hosting No. 4 Springfield College in straight sets (25-22, 25-19, 25-16).
 
The Hawks (5-2 overall) had won three-straight leading into the match, their first in the Northeast after a six-game road stand in the Midwest where they went 5-1 with their only loss coming to Benedictine in five.
 
They had their worst performance of the season Wednesday night, posting a season-low 24 kills, while hitting a season-low .028 on the night and compiling just 10 digs, allowing the Pride to hit .490 — all season worst thus far.
 
SUNY New Paltz closed the gap in the first after getting down 22-17 on a three-point run, which was backed by a double block by Mike Kilinski and Evan Kane, followed by a kill from Teddy Teraszkiewicz. However, a service error gave Springfield back serve where they capitalized forcing the Hawks into an attacking error that set up set point. SUNY New Paltz answered with two-straight points off a service error and a kill by Kane, but a kill by Jarrett Anderson sealed the first and gave the Pride the 1-0 lead.  
Springfield jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the second and held a stable six-point cushion until another 3-0 stretch got the Hawks within three at 19-16. AJ Fitzgerald started the run with a kill off an assist by Dan LaRosa and followed with another kill, this time off a set by Kyle Shaffer with Fitzgerald adding another from LaRosa. A service error ended the run and the two teams began trading points until the Pride got to set point on a 3-0 run of their own followed by an ace and a kill by Noah Weislo. John Ronan trimmed the deficit, 24-19 but Springfield ended the second on a kill by Chris Rouleau.
 
The Hawks never led in the final frame but tied the score early at four on an ace by John Ronan. After SUNY New Paltz earned back-to-back kills from LaRosa and Kane, the Pride went on to score 10 of the next 13 points to take a comfortable 20-11 advantage. An ace by Teraszkiewicz helped the Hawks get within six at 23-16, but Springfield closed out the match following a serving error and a hitting error.
 
Brendan Spulnick led SUNY New Paltz with a team-high 10 kills, hitting .250 on 24 attempts with two aces and a block. Kane followed with five kills and a block. LaRosa finished with four digs, six assists and a kill.
 
The Hawks' tough schedule continues Saturday as they hold their home opener in the Hawk Center in a tri-match against No. 1 Stevens and Wentworth Institute of Technology at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

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