New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz was at the brink of capturing the program's fourth SUNYAC title and first since 2018 nine months ago on the home court of SUNY Cortland.
 
The Hawks produced their second-straight 20-plus win season, snagging a first-round bye in the SUNYAC Tournament after securing the No. 2 seed, while touting one of their most veteran groups in years. However, the team couldn't get passed a stacked Red Dragons team who ultimately claimed their third-straight conference crown. However, entering 2024, they hope to finally put an end to the Red Dragons' reign.
 
Moving forward from last year's run, SUNY New Paltz once again boasts a talented group guided by one of the premier coaches in Region III in Matt Giufre, but this season is a new challenge with a much younger core. Regardless, the program is still holding the same high standard it had set over the last two decades with Giufre at the helm.
 
"I think we are absolutely talented enough to win a SUNYAC Championship this year," said Hawks senior captain Jamie Albrecht. "We have a lot of incoming freshmen and rookies going to start, so to have them come in and be secret weapons for us I think that's going to make a huge impact. We also have some amazing returners and veterans that are already powerhouses, so I'm really excited to see [what this team can do]."
 
 
Graduating seven seniors, including four from the starting rotation, which included AVCA All-America honorable mention pick in setter Cate DiGiacomo and AVCA All-Region select outside Mackenzie Williams, the Hawks have new stars along the lineup as eight freshmen enter the fold primed to make an immediate impact.  
"We had [seven] seniors last year and they made a huge impact… but honestly the sophomores and the freshmen this year have really stepped into a bigger role," said SUNY New Paltz junior captain Mirella Valuzzi. "The sophomores have been focusing more on a leadership role and really being present on the court. Same with the freshmen — [they] have stepped up like I've never seen before. They're putting in their A-plus effort and honestly, I think everyone is doing a really great job at stepping up into the roles of the seniors."
 
With the graduation of a large group, Valuzzi looks to fill a need on the outside for the Hawks, while also stepping into a captaincy position as she, Albrecht and senior middle Letisha Perez serve as the only upperclassmen on the team. All three will prove pivotal in helping shepherd youth along the lineup as they navigate a notoriously tough schedule throughout the regular season.
 
"I think the best aspect about this squad is how hard we've been working throughout from day one of preseason every single person on this team has stepped up," Valuzzi said. "Freshman, sophomore, no matter what class. everyone stepped up and I think that our effort and our hard work is definitely going to take us places."
 
As new stars emerge for SUNY New Paltz, the program returns two of the best from last season in Albrecht and Perez. Albrecht joined DiGiacomo as the only AVCA All-America honorable mention picks last season for the team. She also earned First-Team honors as an AVCA All-Region and All-SUNYAC select, while totaling 299 kills a season ago, averaging 3.08 kings per set and 2.16 digs per set to go along with 32 aces, landing third most on the team.  
"So far I think preseason has been great," Albrecht said. "… There's a lot of determination to be competitive and put [our] best foot forward going into our first tournament this weekend."
 
Perez, meanwhile, is also coming off her best season in 2023. She earned AVCA All-Region honorable mention and was a Second-team All-SUNYAC pick after leading her team in blocks (58), averaging almost a block per set while also totaling a career-high 258 kills. She and Albrecht accumulated nearly half of the total points for the Hawks a season ago.
 
"I feel like we can win a SUNYAC Championship," Perez said. "We just need to keep being competitive, keep grinding, continue communicating and build on the trust [in each other] that we already have…. I think we're starting to build something. We are able to work together, and the connections are getting better and stronger, and I think throughout the season we are just going to [continue] getting better."
 
Along with the three veterans, SUNY New Paltz returns five sophomores who each earned valuable minutes on the floor in different capacities last season. Lexi Stragalas earned the starting spot in the middle as a freshman in 2023 and finished her first year fourth on the team in points (144.5) and kills (122), averaging 1.49 points and 1.26 kills per set, respectively, while totaling 38 blocks on the year, third most on the team.
 
Kim Braun appeared in 22 sets in 15 matches last season mostly in a defensive role, as she totaled 30 digs and six aces, but will step in to fill the need at setter with the loss of DiGiacomo. Lola Konopa and Christine Balbona are two middles who will also fight for time on the court in their seconds years, as the two combined for 32 kills last season in 13 and 11 matches, respectively. Courtney Meyer rounds out the returning group, as the Pine Bush native transitions from outside to libero, looking to secure a starting role at the spot. Giufre also brought in DeSales transfer Regan Moeykens who will backup Albrecht at opposite, while sophomore Kailey Jankowksi will add depth at outside as well.
 
A deep freshmen class is made up of setters Mia Colombo (Holtsville, NY/Sachem East HS), Elena Savage (West Babylon, NY/West Babylon HS), liberos Jordyn Lewis (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas HS), Riley Guzman (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle HS), outsides Chloe Choi (Queens, NY/The Mary Louis Academy), Maria Weigand (Howard Beach, NY/Archbishop Molloy HS) and middle hitters Nora Keating (Brewster, NY/Brewster HS) and Sophia Cleney (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa HS).
 
The Hawks will quickly find out how good they can be as they jump into a tough opening tournament when they travel west to compete in the Scranton Invitational Friday and Saturday against Coast Guard Academy, Misericordia and the hosting Royals. They faced the latter two teams last season, defeating Scranton, 3-1 while falling to the Cougars in four sets.
 
SUNY New Paltz opens up its 2024 campaign Friday against Coast Guard Academy in Scranton, PA. First serve is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Season Preview Featuring Jamie Albrecht & Letisha Perez

 

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