Huntingdon, PA — The State University of New York New Paltz suffered its first loss of the season Friday night against the hosting Juniata Eagles in five sets (22-25, 24-26, 25-28, 25-29, 12-15).
 
Juniata went into the match as the more seasoned group playing in its sixth game of the year, while the No. 13 nationally ranked Hawks were playing in just their second match of the season after opening with a four-set victory Wednesday night against Kean. SUNY New Paltz narrowly pulled out the come-from-behind win after forcing a deciding fifth set but couldn't get over an early lead by the Eagles in the final stanza, as it fell to 1-1 overall on the year.
 
SUNY New Paltz was slightly more efficient offensively, hitting .283 to Juniata's .200, while scoring more points (71-68) and more aces (9-4) with the hosts tallying more kills (54-51) and assists (53-49).
 
The first set was a productive stanza as each team hit above. .340 with a combined 28 kills. The period was tied at 14 after the Eagles sided out on a kill, which started a mini 3-0 run. Although the set was tight down the stretch, the hosts never trailed from that point forward. Kills by Hawks Peter Brutschin and Geoff Ndoria helped the visitors to within two at 21-19, but SUNY New Paltz couldn't string together a run as the two teams traded points until the set ended at 25-22 on a service error to push Juniata ahead, 1-0.
 
The Hawks secured set point at 24-23 following an Eagles serving error in set two, but a kill from the hosts allowed serves to exchange and Juniata rode the momentum for the final three points where it scored on a block and a set-winning kill from Octavian Sperry to take a 2-0 lead.  
SUNY New Paltz changed the momentum of the match midway through the third set, storming out to an 8-0 run to take a 17-12 lead and never relinquished control from there. Daniel Shanley was the catalyst as he served through the run and recorded two aces while forcing four attacking errors in the stretch to help his team to the five-point lead. After the Eagles earned back a point on a kill at 22-18, the Hawks ended the set with three-straight points. Nikko Tenedorio swung for a kill which allowed Shanley to serve the final two points where he tallied another ace and forced a hitting error, as Michael Spiegel and Krish Jain got up for a block to secure the 25-18 win.
 
Spiegel allowed SUNY New Paltz to side-out at 17-15 in the fourth, putting the ball back in the hands of Shanley who once again propelled his team to a comfortable advantage as he served five-straight points. He tallied two more aces before assisting Tenedorio on a kill to cap the stretch, which allowed his team to grab a 22-15 cushion. Service errors from Juniata ultimately tied the match at two sets apiece at scores of 24-18 and 25-19, prompting a deciding fifth set.
 
The Eagles regrouped in the final frame, as a short 3-0 run at the switch proved the difference as they grabbed an 8-5 lead with SUNY New Paltz struggling to overcome down the stretch. Artair Kayser won back a point, smashing a free ball for a kill to cut the score 6-8 but Juniata sided out with a kill on the following point and scored the next two to get out to an 11-6 lead. The Hawks got within two once again following a kill from Spiegel on a set by Shanley, but a kill from the hosts brought the match to 14-11. Spiegel scored the last point for his team on a kill, but Juniata put the win away on a swing from Chase Robbins to secure the 15-12 victory.
 
Tenedorio finished with a game-high 23 points on 19 kills, three aces and two blocks to go along with two assists and eight digs. Spiegel followed with 13 kills, two assists, an ace, three blocks and four digs for 15.5 points. Shanley, for the second-straight game, padded the stat sheet as he had a team-high 40 assists with a game-high five aces, four blocks and a game-high 10 digs.
 
The Hawks are back on the court Saturday morning, facing conference opponent Hobart College in a non-conference match at 11 a.m. before taking on Widener at 1:30 p.m. to conclude Juniata hosted Kevin Pratte Foundation Invitational.  

 
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