Plattsburgh, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz extended its winning streak to three after a dominant 3-0 sweep of Plattsburgh on the road Friday night (25-19, 25-13, 25-17).
 
The win pushed the Hawks over .500 for the first time this season, improving to 12-11 overall and 5-3 in the SUNYAC. Maybe more importantly, the victory puts SUNY New Paltz in prime position to capture its 19th-straight playoff spot, currently sitting fourth in the league standings behind already clinched SUNY Cortland, Buffalo State and Morrisville, respectively.
 
The Cardinals didn't have an answer to the Hawks offense, as they finished with a team-hitting average of .309, third-best all year. SUNY New Paltz generated more points (58-33), kills (40-19), aces (12-7), assists (36-15) and digs (36-21) than the hosts.
 
Kim Braun and Elena Savage facilitated the offense, combining for 29 assists with Braun also serving well with four aces, tying a game-high with fellow Hawk Courtney Meyer. Six different Hawks also totaled five or more kills for a balanced offensive effort, led by Letisha Perez who hit .615 with eight kills on 13 attempts, adding a block. Jamie Albrecht followed with seven kills on 13 attempts, hitting .385 with an assist, two aces, three blocks and eight digs. Maria Weigand also tallied seven kills, adding an assist, an ace and eight digs. Mirella Valluzzi, Regan Moeykens and Lexi Stragalas followed with five kills apiece.  
The first set was tied at nine before a 7-0 run for SUNY New Paltz turned the period with Meyer serving through the stretch and tallying two aces to help her team to a comfortable 16-9 lead. The Hawks were in control from there, holding set point at 24-13 following an ace by Braun, but the sophomore couldn't sustain the momentum serving out to give Plattsburgh life that resulted in a 6-0 run. The Hawks finally put an end to the threat, as Stragalas earned the assist on an out of system ball to Maria Weigand for the set-sealing kill.
 
SUNY New Paltz rolled from there, as a 17-1 run pushed it to a 19-9 lead in the second. The visitors held a 21-11 advantage on another ace by Meyer before scoring the last four points to win the set, 25-13 with Albrecht and Perez ending the stanza with a double block.
 
Momentum fully swung toward the Hawks, a kill by Albrecht sustained a 18-7 cushion in set No. 3. The Cardinals fought to trim the deficit to 19-13 but a dump for a kill by Savage allowed SUNY New Paltz to side out, stalling the run. The two teams traded points before kills from Stragalas and Albrecht got the lead out to 22-14. A bad set from Plattsburgh added another point, but the hosts answered with three consecutive points. Moeykens allowed the Hawks to side out, slamming a kill to earn her team match point before Meyer ended the game with her fourth ace of the match.
 
SUNY New Paltz concludes SUNYAC play on the road Saturday, facing SUNY Potsdam at 1 p.m.


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