Misericordia, PA — The State University of New York New Paltz competed in the Misericordia Tournament Saturday, competing against the hosting Cougars and William Paterson University.
 
The Hawks fell to 6-5 overall after suffering a five-set loss against Misericordia (25-10, 22-25, 25-13, 15-12) and a three-set defeat against the Pioneers (25-13, 25-9, 25-14).
 
After falling in the first set against the Cougars, SUNY New Paltz rallied in the second to even the match at one set apiece. Down 21-17, a service error allowed the Hawks to side-out and climb closer to the lead following a solo block by Nora Keating and a kill from Lexi Stragalas. The two teams traded points before Kim Braun solidified the second set victory, serving through five-straight points, forcing two attacking errors and a bad set in the stretch to help clinch a 25-22 win.
 
SUNY New Paltz struggled in the third set, hitting in the negatives which allowed Misericordia to easily take a 2-1 lead in the match following a 25-13 victory. The Hawks pushed the game into a fifth after a hard-fought fourth period.
 
A five-point lead dwindled to one down the stretch of the fourth set, as a kill from the hosts trimmed SUNY New Paltz's lead to 21-20. Kaylee DeGroat helped the Hawks quickly side-out, however, allowing Jordyn Lewis to serve through a 4-0 run, capping the stretch with an ace on set point.
 
SUNY New Paltz held the slight, 8-7 advantage at the switch in the fifth with the two teams trading points until Christine Balbona tied the match at 12-12 following a kill off an assist from Braun. An attacking error gave the Cougars life, and they took advantage scoring the next two points on an ace and a swing on match point to earn the 15-12 win.

Reagan Dyba led SUNY New Paltz offensively with 11 points on eight kills, two aces and two blocks while adding a game-high 17 digs. Stragalas finished with a team-high nine kills on 24 attempts, hitting a team-best .292 in the match. Braun and Elena Savage facilitated the offense, combining for 29 assists, five aces and 11 digs.
 
The Hawks struggled in their final match of the day against William Patterson, only garnering 22 points on 17 kills, hitting negative .155 in the loss. Keating had a team-high six points off five kills and a block. Savage finished with six assists, two aces and six digs, while Braun added five assists and four digs.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in the Hawks Center for its next four matches, as it hosts Kean, Mount Saint Vincent, St. John Fisher and US Merchant Marine Academy in the annual New Paltz Tournament Sept. 26-27.
 

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