New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz fell short in a four-set game against visiting No. 2 Vassar Wednesday night in the Hawk Center. 
 
The Hawks went to 17-8 overall with losses in their first two sets, 24-26 and 19-25, respectively, pulling a win in the third going 25-23 and dropping the last set at 20-25. The game started on a high note with a kill by Pat Wing and racking up three points before the Brewers took possession on Wing's service error. 
 
The first period had a steady back-and-forth game of catchup between the two teams. The Brewers tied things up at 13 points before the Hawks quickly earned 14 in the game continuing the point-for-point scoring. Notably, with an impressive service ace near the halfway point by Brendan Spulnick, making 16 for SUNY New Paltz. 
 
On a service by Vassar, the Hawks received and scored with a kill by AJ Fitzgerald from Kyle Shaffer. Shaffer appeared to have faked the pass to John Ronan first, creating space for Fitzgerald to come in with the kill. 
 
SUNY New Paltz led 24-22 before the first time out and upon returning, sided-out with a service error. The Brewers made their comeback starting off with an ace and carrying their way to a final score of 24-26. 
 
 
Vassar started the second period off, earning a point by blocking an attack by Wing, who responded on the next serve by spiking the ball. The Brewers then created a five-point lead over the Hawks for much of the first half going 13-8 before a kill by Wing, followed by a block by both Shaffer and Krish Jain brought SUNY New Paltz up and tightened the gap. The period continued in this manner with Vassar ultimately producing a six-point lead until the end result of 19-25. 
 
The Brewers served first once again in the third period and a similar pattern to the last two ensued. With the game repeatedly tying, at 13-13 an intense back-and-forth of the ball occurred, sending one Vassar player into his team's bench and with a stunning block by Spulnick, the Hawks earned the point. This carried SUNY New Paltz for the rest of the period as it maintained its short lead over the Brewers coming out on top in the third 25-23 with a kill by Spulnick.   
"The mentality is always just to win," said Jain. "It's really the only thing we're working towards. You got to just come in tomorrow, keep on working, put our heads down. Season's not over, we're still going, we're going to get another shot at these guys."
 
The Hawks' shot at victory against their rivals ended in the fourth and final period. Vassar took home the win after capitalizing on service errors made by the Hawks. Ending on a serve by Jain, the Brewers secured a 20-25 win. 
 
"We made some easy mistakes," said Hawks coach Radu Petrus. "The service wasn't working out well for us. So when we go to the playoffs, I think it will bring the best out. We have a good offense in the back row, I think that is our power in the team."
 
SUNY New Paltz will be back at it Saturday playing St. John Fisher University in a UVC match at 1 p.m.

Game Highlights


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