New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz won in three straight sets (25-20, 25-16, 25-22) against visiting No. 9 Nazareth Sunday in the Hawk Center.
 
The Hawks (13-5 overall, 1-0 UVC) celebrated their four graduating seniors prior to the match in Kyle Shaffer, Dan LaRosa, Brendan Spulnick and John Ronan. The four helped SUNY New Paltz to its first United Volleyball Conference win of the year, as SUNY New Paltz overcame a hot start by the Golden Flyers.
 
The Hawks took their first lead of the first set at 10-9 in the middle of a 5-0 run. LaRosa made a diving play to save a ball, setting perfectly to Pat Wing for the kill, which pushed the lead to two. Spulnick then capped the stretch with a kill off an assist from LaRosa. SUNY New Paltz's largest lead came at 20-13 following a kill by AJ Fitzgerald off a set from Shaffer. Spulnick eventually got his team to set point on a kill, assisted by Shaffer. Wing then put the finishing touches on the first with another kill.
 
After Nazareth cut the score 18-15 in the second, SUNY New Paltz scored six unanswered points to get to set point. LaRosa made another nice defensive play, pancaking a ball to keep the point alive, eventually leading to a block by Ronan that helped cushion the lead to 22-15. An attacking error and a bad set by the Golden Flyers pushed to set point before the Golden Flyers served into the net for the last point of the stanza.
 
 
The third was tied at 17 before Wing landed a swing for a kill to give the Hawks back the lead. Wing finished on a set by Shaffer, which brought the lead to 23-10 and after Nazareth won back two points, SUNY New Paltz scored the last two points, including a match ending block by Krish Jain and Adam Brawn.
 
Wing led the way with 16 kills, hitting .263 with three blocks and four digs. Spulnick followed with five, a block and three digs with Ronan adding four kills and three blocks. Shaffer finished with 30 assists, an ace and six digs, while LaRosa totaled a team-leading 12 digs and four assists.
 
The Hawks are back in action Wednesday when they go on the road to face Rutgers-Newark at 7 p.m.

****************************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.