New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz earned a home opening win over visiting Mount Saint Mary College Friday night in the Hawk Center.
 
After dropping the first set, the Hawks won three consecutive to claim the four-set victory, 21-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-16.
 
SUNY New Paltz looked at a 13-11 deficit midway through the second set before a 10-0 run turned the stanza with Elena Savage serving through the run. Three-straight kills by Jamie Albrecht officially gave the Hawks the lead with Savage capping the stretch with her second ace of the run to create a 21-13 cushion.
 
The Knights got within four at 21-17 before SUNY New Paltz answered with four-straight points to tie the set at 1-1. Perez put the final stamp on the set with back-to-back aces after laying down a kill off an assist from Savage.
 
SUNY New Paltz held onto the momentum from there and jumped out to a quick 11-4 lead in the third and never withheld control from there. Three-straight aces from Lola Konopa pushed the Hawks to a comfortable 23-14 lead with Lexi Stragalas securing set point on a free ball at 24-15. Perez again solidified the set win with a kill to give her team a 2-1 advantage in the match.
 
The fourth was tied at 13 before Albrecht helped SUNY New Paltz side-out. She went up and served through four-straight points as kills by Konopa, Stragalas and Maria Weigand created an 18-13 Hawks lead. Mount Saint Mary fought back to get within two at 18-16, but SUNY New Paltz countered with seven straight points to earn the win. Mia Colombo subbed on for her first action of the match and served through the final stretch, registering four aces including at match point to secure the win for her team.
 
 
Perez, Albrecht and Stragalas led the Hawks offensively. Perez finished with a game-high 19 points, registering 13 kills, five aces and a block. Albrecht followed with 17.5 points including a game-high 17 kills, hitting .382 with an assist, a block and 17 digs. Stragalas ended with 11 kills, hitting a productive .400 with a dig. Jordyn Lewis led the game with 20 digs for SUNY New Paltz, while Savage totaled a game-high 38 assists with two aces.
 
The team returns to the Hawk Center Saturday, hosting the annual Hawks Invitational, playing Sage at 11 a.m. and Union at 5:45 p.m. The latter match will serve as their annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Awareness Game.

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