Scranton, PA — The State University of New York New Paltz concluded its season opening weekend at the Scranton Invitational, taking on Misericordia University and the hosting Royals.
The Hawks (0-3 overall) dropped their opening match to the Cougars in straight sets (25-18, 25-18, 25-16), before falling to Scranton in the final game of the day in four sets, 25-17, 20-25, 25-14, 25-22).
SUNY New Paltz struggled against Misericordia with the Cougars holding the advantage in nearly every statistical category including points (48-29), kills (33-22), aces (11-6), blocks (4-1), assists (28-18) and digs (41-38).
Maria Weigand led the Hawks offensively with six kills and seven points to go along with an ace and two digs.
Letisha Perez followed with five kills and six points, while totaling eight digs.
Jamie Albrecht finished with a team-high nine digs, while adding four kills and a block.
Elena Savage had a team-high 15 assists.
After dropping the first set to the Royals in game two, SUNY New Paltz worked its way back to tie the match at a set apiece after earning a 25-20 set two victory.
The second was tied five times, including at 19-all until the Hawks went on a 5-0 run to get to set point.
Jordyn Lewis served through the stanza after Jamie Albercht helped her team side-out with a kill off an assist by
Elena Savage. Lewis followed with an ace on the ensuing point with
Letisha Perez registering a solo block on the next. An attacking error helped SUNY New Paltz keep serve before Albrecht capped the stretch with a kill to push the score to 24-19. Lewis' run ended after serving out, but Perez put an end to the set with a kill on the ensuing point with Savage coming up with the assist on the play.
The rally ended there as Scranton took the next two. It jumped out to a commanding 22-9 lead in the third before the Hawks worked back within 10 at 23-13 following a kill by Perez. The hole was too big to overcome, however, and Scranton eventually secured a 25-14 win following a kill by Kassidy Means.
The fourth set was more tightly contested. The score was tied seven times, but SUNY New Paltz couldn't string enough points together to re-take the lead. A kill by Cammi Quirk gave the Royals a 21-18 lead before the Hawks got within one with a kill from
Lexi Stragalas and an attacking error. Scranton answered with consecutive points before the two teams traded serves with Scranton getting to match point on a service error by SUNY New Paltz at 24-21. Albrecht tightened the score to 24-22 after laying down her 10th kill, but the Royals put an end to the match with a kill on the next point to secure the win.
Perez finished with a game-high 12 kills after hitting a productive, .321, while adding a block and a dig. Stragalas joined Perez and Albrecht as the only other Hawks to finish with double-digit kills, producing 10, while hitting an efficient .438 in the match. She also added an assist and three digs. Freshmen Savage and Lewis produced career-highs with 31 assists and 17 digs, respectively, to lead the team. Lewis also registered three aces, while freshman outside hitter
Maria Weigand tallied a career- and game-high four aces to go along with four kills and three digs.
Perez and Lewis were both named to the Scranton Invitiational All-Tournament team.
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Friday and Saturday when they host its annual Hawks Invitational in the Hawk Center for its home opener. Its first match of the tournament is slated for Friday at 6 p.m. against Mount Saint Mary College.
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