Last year marked an exceptional season for the State University of New Paltz Women's Volleyball, but they are not done yet. 
 
The team was nothing short of electric on the court last year, coming off a .500 record during the 2021 season and improving to a .840 record in 2022, which ascertains the talent and dedication of both the players and the coaching staff. They secured victories against competition they lost to in 2021, including Western Connecticut State, Drew University, and SUNYAC Competitors SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Geneseo. "We grew a lot as a team and put in a lot of hard work in the offseason... and brought that hard work into the season," said co-captain Mackenzie Williams reflects, an outside hitter who led the team in both kills (300) and service aces (45) last year.  
 
Despite the strides made throughout the regular season, the Hawks ended their 2022 run in the same spot as they did in 2021 — in the SUNYAC semifinals. SUNY New Paltz fell to No. 2 seeded SUNY Brockport in four sets in Cortland, NY. However, the Hawks plan to take the momentum gained in 2022 and shoot for the conference title in 2023. 
 
 
"We set a high standard of play and expectation last season that we plan to maintain," said co-captain setter Cate DiGiacomo, who was named as an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and SUNYAC Scholar Athlete of the Year last season. "One of our goals has been to use exhaustion as an opportunity to grow as individuals and as a team to push through hard and tiring situations." 
 
SUNY New Paltz will return most of its team, and this year over half the players will be upperclassmen, having lots of experience on a collegiate court. Among veteran players include starters Williams, DiGiacomo, and Letisha Perez, a middle hitter who was named the Dominican Sports Union's Most Outstanding Athlete and recorded 58 blocks and 169 kills last season.    
However, when returning to an in-season mentality, coach Matt Giufre said, "Every time you come back to school, everyone has different goals, objectives and aspirations – and making sure those all go in one direction for the best interest of the team is something we're taking very seriously." 
 
Despite losing their starting libero and right side, the Hawks have re-stocked at both positions as senior Melanie Podstupka, who served as a defensive specialist in her first two seasons playing a combined 178 sets in her career, slides into the starting libero role while Jamie Albrecht — a junior transfer from Springfield College will land at right side and has looked special this past spring and over the team's preseason, adding another offensive weapon into Giufre's rotation.  
 
Among returners who will see time on the court are senior outside hitter Samantha Cox, senior setter and serving specialist Kayleigh Emanuelson, senior setter Dana Collins and sophomore right side Mirella Valluzzi. 
 
"We bring back a lot of key pieces with a lot of experience from last season that will have major roles in the lineup," said Giufre who is four wins away from 500 career wins, making him the winningest coach in program history, along with being ranked in the top 40 DIII Women's Volleyball Coaches in winning percentage.  
 
"It has been inspiring to continue the legacy that so many successful teams before us have set and we plan to help coach pursue his 500th win," Williams said. "We plan to continue to not only uphold the standard that previous teams before us have set but push to continue it further and continue to make it a successful program." 

Entering season 21st season at the helm of the program, Giufre brought new coaching strategies to the table, including giving external feedback more than internal feedback. "Instead of telling a player what to do with their hand, which is internal to her, we will talk about looking for a specific spot on the ball to strike. Something that is an external object your eyes will focus on." And, not only physical strategies, but mental strategies as well.  
 
 
"Every time you come back to school, you have different goals and aspirations, and we have to make sure we are all going in the same direction for the best interests of the team, which everyone takes really seriously," he said.  
 
But after losing a talented senior class, including co-captain and SUNYAC All-Tournament team selection Waddell who led the team in digs last season, SUNY New Paltz will add eight players to the team entering 2023. Giufre describes his new additions as "super athletic," and his team overall is "from top down one of the most athletic teams I've had."    
Among newcomers include Albrecht and senior outside Victoria Venus, who spent the last four years starring for the SUNY New Paltz women's basketball team, winning two conference titles while with the program. She begins her first season with the Hawks volleyball team and is projected to see ample minutes in the team's starting rotation. Rounding out the new additions are freshmen Lexi Stragalas — a 6-foot, middle hitter who will also see extended time on the floor with the Hawks graduating 6-foot, 4-inch AVCA All-American Honorable Mention Victoria Konicki — Emma Mahoney (libero, Stormville, NY), Courtney Meyer (outside hitter, Pine Bush, NY), Kim Braun (setter, Garrison, NY), Lola Konopa (middle hitter, West Islip) and Christine Balbona (middle hitter, Cortlandt Manor, NY).  
 
"Our incoming class of players has automatically bought into the culture of our team and has immediately put in full effort and work ethic," William said. "They will have a strong influence on our team's success, and we know they're up for the challenge." 
 
SUNY New Paltz road to a conference title and a bid into the NCAA Tournament begins Friday with a tough opening test, competing against Smith College at the Scranton Invitational — a 20-win team a year ago, before facing Swarthmore College and the hosting Royals Saturday. SUNYAC play begins Sept. 29 in a match versus SUNY Fredonia.  

Hawks Women's Volleyball Season Preview Featuring Cate DiGiacomo

 
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