New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz concluded the NP Challenge Tournament Saturday in the Hawk Center by splitting its two matches on the day, falling to St. John Fisher (25-16, 25-12, 25-19) before sweeping United States Merchant Marine Academy (25-12, 25-20, 25-17).
The Hawks (8-7 overall) had a valiant effort against the Cardinals but ultimately couldn't keep up with the offensive production from the visitors who hit .371 in the match and held the advantage in points (54-34), kills (42-29), aces (6-4), blocks (6-1), assists (39-26) and digs (54-45).
Freshman outside
Reagan Dyba led SUNY New Paltz offensively with 10 kills on 35 attempts with five digs and a team-leading 10 points. Sophomore outside
Maria Weigand followed with seven kills on 20 attempts, while adding six digs and seven points.
Kim Braun facilitated the offense, totaling a team-high 24 assists and team-most two aces in the match.
The Hawks rebounded in the night cap, coming back to take on the Mariners. They opened up with a dominant first set, getting out to a 10-1 lead and not letting up for the rest of the stanza. A free ball was killed by
Lola Konopa, which capped a 6-0 run for SUNY New Paltz that brought the cushion to 21-10. Weigand then served the last three points on a 4-0 run to end the first, resulting in back-to-back attacking errors before Konopa concluded the first on a kill off an assist by Braun.
SUNY New Paltz jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start the second with Weigand again serving through the stretch. The Hawks never trailed from that point forward and although USMMA worked to get within four at 22-18, Dyba earned a point back before Konopa got her team to set point with a kill off an assist from Braun. Dyba then secured the 2-0 lead for her team on a big swing off a set by Braun two points later.
SUNY New Paltz jumped out to a big lead once more to start the third, owning a 9-2 lead following a block by
Lexi Stragalas and Dyba. The Hawks never trailed in the set and held a commanding, 22-13 advantage following two aces by Braun sandwiched between a kill from Stragalas. Weigand eventually earned match point for her team at 24-17 following a kill off an assist by
Jordyn Lewis with
Nora Keating putting the game away on a kill, finishing a rally off an assist by Konopa to finalize the 3-0 sweep.
Dyba led the team offensively with nine kills on 27 attempts, while adding three blocks and seven digs for a team-leading 11 points. Konopa followed with seven kills on 21 attempts, while adding one assist, two blocks and four digs for eight points. Weigand had five kills and a team-leading four aces with 10 digs for nine points.
Courtney Meyer paced SUNY New Paltz defensively, finishing with a team-high 12 digs to go along with an ace.
The Hawks are back in action next weekend, starting up SUNYAC play on the road against Oswego and Canton Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m., respectively.
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