Hoboken, NJ — The State University of New York New Paltz lost its second straight Wednesday night, falling to No. 4 nationally ranked Stevens in three sets, 25-17, 25-23, 27-25.
 
The Hawks (5-8 overall) struggled in the first as they fell into a seven-point deficit at 21-14 midway through to allow the Ducks to earn set point at 24-16 before a service error ended the opening set two points later at 25-17.
 
After looking at a six-point hole late in the second, SUNY New Paltz fought back thanks to a 4-0 run to get within one at 22-21. A service error helped the Hawks side out to start the run with Nikko Tenedorio serving through the stretch. Krish Jain and Carter Lotz added to the stanza with a double block on the next point. Tenedorio then aced before Lotz tallied a kill to cap the 4-0 streak, but a serving error kept the hosts in front. Jain answered with a kill on the next point, but a ball handling error pushed the Ducks to set point on the following play. Lotz and Mike Handell got up for a block to give the Hawks back serve, but the stalemate alluded them once more as Stevens closed out with a kill to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
The third set was tight, as the two teams knotted the score 17 times throughout the period including at 18 through 25-all with SUNY New Paltz earning the first set point at 24-23 followed by a kill from Jain. Stevens countered with a kill to side-out, but the Hawks earned set point once more after the Ducks served long.
 
Stevens ended the set with three straight points, finding the gap in the back of the court on a kill to tie the match at 25 before finalizing a long rally with a block on the right side to earn set point at 26-25. The Ducks served hard on the next play, forcing a tough pass leading to an easy block to solidify the match with a 27-25 third set victory.
 
Tenedorio led the Hawks with 10 points on eight kills, three assists, two aces and 10 digs. Michael Spiegel tied for a team-high eight kills on 22 attempts, while adding an ace, a block and two digs. Jain followed with seven kills on 13 attempts, hitting .538 with an ace and a block. Daniel Shanley facilitated the offense with a team-high 20 assists, while also registering two kills, a block and seven digs.
 
The Hawks are back in action Feb. 28 for their first United Volleyball Conference action of the season, hosting Hobart College at 7 p.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.