New Paltz NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz lost its match against No. 4 ranked Springfield College 3-1 in the Hawk Center Wednesday, losing a four-game set (23-25, 20-25, 25-23, 19-25)
 
The Hawks (6-6 overall) started the evening against the Pride and got out to a 1-0 lead with a block from Matt Maruza with an assist from Daniel Shanley. Graham Labeck tallied a kill with an assist from Maruza to tie the game at four. SUNY New Paltz battled to a 7-2 run but dropped the first set 23-25. The Hawks dropped the second but battled through a tightly locked third set.
 
The hosts played a back-and-forth game, with no team having a lead more than two. SUNY New Paltz was locked into a 23-23 tie in the third before a kill by Krish Jain gave the Hawks a one-point lead forcing set point. An attack error by the Pride secured SUNY New Paltz the third set win.
 
 
The Hawks got out to a 1-0 lead to start the fourth set with an attack error from the Pride but got into a hole and trailed by four leading to their first timeout of the set. A Matt Maruza kill cut the Pride lead to two, which was the smallest deficit SUNY New Paltz faced towards the end of the fourth set, and were not able to overcome Springfield as they dropped the fourth stanza with the Pride earning match point at 24-21 after the Hawks worked their way back within one. Shanley and Marusza each registered kills to inch the team closer, but Springfield sealed the victory on a serving error. 
 
Labeck highlighted the offense for the Hawks, totaling 10 kills, Pat Wing had eight kills and five digs, and Krish Jain added five blocks. Maruza finished with seven digs and a team-leading 35 assists. 
 
"The boys fought hard today," said Labeck. "I think we got a lot of potential, and we got close out of little runs, and honestly if we work hard and work at it. Improve certain skills, I think we'll be fine."

SUNY New Paltz returns to the Hawk Center Friday when it faces No. 19 Benedictine at 7 p.m. Friday.

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