Buffalo, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz went into the weekend with its playoff lives on the line. A loss could've potentially deterred a 21st consecutive appearance in postseason play, while two victories could mean a home playoff game.
 
They locked in Friday night with a hard-fought five-set win over a talented Fredonia team and took their momentum into Saturday against Buffalo State, defeating the Bengals on their home court in four sets, 27-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23 to not only cement a playoff berth but secure the No. 3 seed in the program's final stint in the SUNYAC Tournament.
 
For the second consecutive day, SUNY New Paltz was led by its play at the net as the team totaled 11 blocks, led by middles Lola Konopa (4), Lexi Stragalas (3) and right-side Nora Keating (4), which helped limit Buffalo State to hit just .138 in the match.
 
The Hawks won an extended first set after keeping Buffalo State from rallying from eight points down at 20-12. SUNY New Paltz went on a 10-1 run to create the cushion with Keating and outside Reagan Dyba combining for half of the team's points in the stretch. The Bengals wouldn't go away, however, and although they initially handed the Hawks set point at 24-21 following a hitting error, they regrouped to score the next four points to snatch set point back following a kill from Colli Delli to push the score, 25-24.
 
SUNY New Paltz sided out on the next point, as setter Kim Braun went to Konopa in the middle for a kill to tie the score at 25-all. Konopa then did the rest, getting up for a huge solo block to bring her team back to set point before fittingly sealing the first set victory on a free ball to solidify the 27-25 win.  
The Hawks took their turn in rallying late in the second. They were down 17-9 following a service error, but after a kill from Maria Wegiand helped side-out, Jordyn Lewis served through six-straight points with Weigand swinging for back-to-back kills to get SUNY New Paltz within one at 17-16. The visitors eventually took the lead after an ace by Braun capped a 3-0 stretch, 22-21, but like the Hawks in set one, the Bengals bent but did not break as they closed out scoring four of the next five points to secure at 25-23 win and tie the match at a set apiece.
 
SUNY New Paltz never trailed in the third after the opening two points by Buffalo State. It took a commanding 23-15 lead following an ace from Lewis, which capped a four-point run. A solo block by Keating pushed the score to set point two points later with Stragalas earning her team the 2-1 lead in the match, swinging for a kill off a set by Braun to seal the third, 25-17.
 
The Bengals held a 17-11 advantage in the fourth, but the Hawks stormed back to take the lead at 19-18 thanks to another ace from Lewis who again served through an unanswered run. Buffalo State re-gained the lead at 22-21 following a kill, but Dyba allowed her team to side-out to close a long rally. Stragalas served the next point and got credited for an assist, as Dyba again tallied a kill to grab the lead back for her side. Dyba pushed the score to match point on another successful swing with Konopa solidifying the four-set victory as she put away a ball from Dyba to conclude the 25-23 stanza.
 
Dyba (14), Keating (12) and Weigand (11) all finished in double-digit kills with Keating finishing with a career high as she hit a productive .300 in the match on 30 attempts. Lewis was big on the serving line, totaling four aces to go along with 16 digs. Braun facilitated the offense as she finished with a game-high 36 assists and a team-leading 18 digs.
 
SUNY New Paltz improved to 15-11 with the victory and 6-3 in SUNYAC play, which clinched a No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament, which begins Nov. 11 for the quarterfinal round. The Hawks earned hosting duties with the top 4 seeding, as they will face No. 6 seeded Morrisville in the Hawk Center to open up postseason play.
 
However, the Hawks still have two more games left on the schedule to conclude the regular season as they go on the road to face Vassar Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Stevens Friday at 7p.m.


**************
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.