New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz concluded day two of its annual Hawks Invitational Saturday, splitting its two matches against Russell Sage College and Union College.
 
The Hawks defeated the Gators in four sets (25-20, 25-13, 23-25, 25-12) but fell in four to the Garnett Chargers (25-16, 21-25, 25-19, 25-17).
 
SUNY New Paltz was dominant in all but one set against Sage to open up the tournament. It hit .306 as a team, a season-high thus far and hit over .300 in each set accept the third with the Gators forcing a fourth set.
 
Senior Jamie Albrecht was the catalyst in the match, totaling a game-high 17 kills on 27 attempts, hitting a productive .593, while adding three assists, two aces and six digs. Letisha Perez and Lola Konopa followed with seven kills apiece Perez added two assists, three aces, two blocks and a career-high 10 digs. Konopa finished with two assists, a solo block and four digs to her credit.
 
Elena Savage was the main facilitator for the Hawks, generating 33 assists, while adding an ace and four digs.
 
SUNY New Paltz got out to a comfortable, 21-14 lead in the first with Sage fighting back to get within three following a 5-1 run. A kill by Konopa helped the Hawks side out before the two teams traded points to get them to set point at 24-20. Savage was credited with the set winning kill, dumping the ball over the net for the point off a pass from Albrecht.
 
SUNY New Paltz jumped out to another hefty lead in the second, as Kim Braun served through four-straight points to aid in her team's 20-8 cushion. The Gators couldn't climb out of the hole and the Hawks easily took a 2-0 lead with Albrecht finalizing the set with a kill off an assist from Savage.
 
 
After dropping the third set, 25-20, SUNY New Paltz regrouped in the fourth and again got out to a strong start. It established a 20-9 advantage with Albrecht getting her team to match point with an ace at 24-11. Sage sided out on the next point on a serving error, but also served out on the next point finalizing the set, 25-12.  
Albrecht once again led the team offensively in game two of the day against Union. She totaled a season-high 18 kills to lead all players, while adding two assists, an ace, two blocks and nine digs with a team-leading 20.5 points. Jordyn Lewis led the team with 14 digs, while Savage once again totaled a team-high in assists with 36, while registering two aces, a block and eight digs.
 
Union took the first set of the match, 25-16, but the Hawks came back to tie the game after taking the second, 25-21. They got out hot, creating a 10-2 lead early with Perez serving through a 7-0 run.

The Garnet Chargers rallied to tie the score at 12 before re-taking the lead at 16-13. A kill by Lexi Stragalas allowed SUNY New Paltz to side out with Kim Braun serving the ensuing point. The Hawks re-gained the lead with four straight points, thanks in part to back-to-back kills by Albrecht. The two teams traded leads before the hosts got ahead for good at 21-19. Union reached within one at 22-21, but SUNY New Paltz closed out with three straight points with Stragalas cementing the set with a kill.
 
The Hawks led in the third 12-9, but the Garnett Chargers started gaining momentum following a service error that allowed them start on a 6-0 run. They never trailed from that point forward and earned set point at 24-17 following a kill. SUNY New Paltz fought to earn the next two points following a kill by Konopa and ace by Albrecht, but Union closed out with a kill to win, 25-19.
 
The visitors got out to a large 17-9 advantage in the fourth before holding a 22-13 lead that the Hawks couldn't claw back from. Ultimately, the Garnett Chargers sealed the set with two straight points to win, 25-17.
 
SUNY New Paltz drop to 2-4 on the year following Saturday's matches. It is back in the Hawk Center Wednesday, hosting Western Connecticut State at 6 p.m.

Hawks vs. Union Highlights (Down Syndrome Awareness Game)


 ********************** 
 
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.