New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz played tough against conference rival and No. 1 ranked New York University Wednesday night in the Hawk Center.
 
The Hawks (10-10 overall, 3-1 UVC), winners of five of their last six, played two tight sets against NYU but ultimately suffered a 3-0 loss (25-23, 26-24, 25-17) and took their first United Volleyball Conference defeat of the season.
 
SUNY New Paltz hovered within a point after working back from an11-8 deficit in the first. Mike Handell came in to provide a spark in the middle, and the junior went 3-for-3 in his first three attempts, the first coming on the second point of his rotation, swinging for a kill to trim the difference,12-9. He came through again, finishing on a set by Matt Marusza to get the score to 13-10 and then capped his productive first set with another kill to get the Hawks within one at 18-17.
 
SUNY New Paltz struggled to gain a lead, as a missed serve on the following point led to three consecutive points for NYU. Daniel Shanley helped the Hawks finally side-out, going up for the kill after beating the lone blocker on the right side. He then served the next point resulting in a hitting error by the Violets, but NYU answered with two straight points on a kill and ace to lengthen the gap, 23-19. A foot fault gave SUNY New Paltz life, but then the two teams traded points leading to a 24-21 score in favor of the visitors.
 
The Hawks nearly forced extra points, siding out thanks to a serve into the net by the Violets, followed by an ace from Michael Spiegel. NYU closed out on the next point on just three touches, as a kill sealed the first.
 
 
SUNY New Paltz coach Radu Petrus was forced into a timeout after a 3-0 run allowed the Violets to re-take the lead at 13-11. Out of the break, Handell and Spiegel go up for a huge double block to win serve back for the Hawks. Handell then doubled-down getting up for a monstrous solo block to tie the score at 13-all. Shanley served the next point with his attempt hitting the net and falling to the other side for an ace. The Hawks held onto a lead until NYU scored two straight to tie the score at 22-all. Nikko Tenedorio answered for SUNY New Paltz, going up for a big swing from the outside to re-take his team's lead, but the Violets responded with a kill of their own from the right side as they found space in the back row to knot the game at 23-23.  
NYU served out to hand the Hawks set point, but the hosts couldn't take advantage as the Violets got their hands on a block to tie the set one last time. They then took advantage of a free ball with SUNY New Paltz out of system and swung for a kill to finishing the set 26-24.
 
The final stanza was all NYU, as it held a 21-16 lead and eventual got to match point at 24-17, scoring the game-sealing point after the ensuing serve to remain undefeated on the year at 18-0.
 
The Hawks scored more points than the Violets, 47-46 and had more aces, 3-2, but NYU held the advantage defensively, as it was 41-32 in digs and was slightly more efficient offensively, hitting .172 to SUNY New Paltz's .087. Both teams totaled 34 kills, 10 blocks and 32 assists.
 
Spiegel led the team with 12 points on eight kills, two aces, four blocks and four digs. Tenedorio followed with 10 points on 10 kills. Shanley added five kills, an assist, an ace and a team-leading eight digs. Marusza tallied a game-high 30 assists, while adding three blocks and six digs.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in the Hawk Center Friday, hosting Arcadia at 6 p.m.
 

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