New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz earned a 3-0 sweep of visiting Canton Friday night in the Hawk Center, 25-10, 25-17, 25-21.
 
The Hawks bounced back after a tough road trip last weekend where they suffered back-to-back SUNYAC losses. However, Friday's victory pushed them back to even at 3-3 in the conference and at 10-11 overall as they sit at fifth with SUNY Oswego looming Saturday afternoon.
 
SUNY New Paltz dominated the first set, which was ignited by a 7-0 start as Elena Savage served through the stretch. The freshman setter had a solid all-around game, leading the way with five aces — a career high — to go along with 30 assists as she facilitated a .226 hitting percentage for the Hawks.
 
The Kangaroos finally earned their first point at 7-1 after Savage served just long to allow the visitors to side-out. The Hawks stayed in front though and took their largest lead at 19-5. They earned set point at 24-10 with Letisha Perez ending the period on a kill off a set by Savage.
 
Canton gave SUNY New Paltz a game in the last two sets, fighting back to make the second close as they scored five-straight to cut the deficit to 21-18 after the Hawks established an early nine-point advantage. A kill by Mirella Valluzzi broke the draught with Perez and Jamie Albrecht aiding in eventual set point following a kill and an ace on back-to-back plays at 24-19. Perez solidified the 2-0 lead two points later with a block to clinch a 25-21 win for her team.
 
The Hawks once again never trailed in the stanza as Lexi Stragalas and Maria Weigand started the set with kills off assists from Savage. The Kangaroos stuck around and was within one early following an ace at 6-7, but a 5-1 run from SUNY New Paltz created a cushion that Canton never broke through.
 
 
A serving error into the net allowed the Kangaroos to side-out at 19-16 before they got within two with an ace, but the Hawks locked in and scored the last six points, instigated by Albrecht as she ended a long rally with a big swing at the net to allow Weigand to serve through the next five points. Weigand started the run with an ace and got her team to match point with another ace before a double block by Valluzzi and Stargalas clinched the sweep.
 
Albrecht finished with a game-high 12 points and 15.5 points to go along with four blocks. Perez followed with eight kills, hitting .636 with three aces and a block. Stragalas followed with six kills, hitting .357 with two assists and a career-high seven total blocks.
 
SUNY New Paltz concludes its regular season SUNYAC home schedule Saturday on Senior Day, hosting the Lakers in the Hawk Center at 1:30 p.m.

 
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