SCHENECTADY, NY - The State University of New York New Paltz women's volleyball team split a pair of matches Saturday at the Union Tournament, falling to host Union College in straight sets before bouncing back with a sweep over Plattsburgh State inside Viniar Athletic Center.
The Hawks fell to the Garnet, 25-18, 25-23 and 29-27, before taking down the Cardinals, 25-17, 25-20 and 25-12 to end the afternoon on a high note.
Union controlled the opening set despite SUNY New Paltz finding some momentum later in the frame. Consecutive kills from Maria Weigand and Christine Balbona helped get the Hawks moving offensively, while kills from Lola Konopa and Balbona and a Balbona service ace highlighted a late New Paltz run. The Garnet maintained enough separation to take the opener, 25-18.
The margin tightened considerably in the second. SUNY New Paltz put down 15 kills in the frame and continued cutting into Union's advantage late, eventually getting within one at 24-23. The Garnet secured the next point, however, escaping with a 25-23 win and a 2-0 lead.
The third set stayed within a few points throughout, with SUNY New Paltz erasing several late Union advantages to keep the match alive. The Garnet reached match point first, but the Hawks extended the set and eventually moved ahead, 27-26, for their own chance to force a fourth. Union responded with three straight points to close out the set, 29-27, and the match in three.
Despite the result, SUNY New Paltz held a 38-37 advantage in kills and a 59-49 edge in digs. Genevieve Boyle led the Hawks with 14 kills, while Elena Savage totaled 30 assists and 12 digs for a double-double. Kim Braun collected a team-high 17 digs.
SUNY New Paltz turned things around in its second match against Plattsburgh State.
The Cardinals grabbed the early advantage in the opening set before the Hawks began cutting into the margin. Boyle, Balbona and Lexi Stragalas each contributed offensively as New Paltz worked its way back, while a solo block from Balbona, a Courtney Meyer service ace and a Plattsburgh State attacking error helped swing momentum toward the Hawks.
New Paltz took control from there, putting down 14 kills and hitting .294 in the opening frame to pull away for a 25-17 win.
The Cardinals stayed close through the second, but the Hawks began creating separation as the set moved along. New Paltz's work at the net helped force Plattsburgh State into 11 attacking errors in the frame, while the Hawks did enough offensively to finish off a 25-20 win and take a commanding 2-0 advantage.
SUNY New Paltz overwhelmed the Cardinals at the net, forcing 14 attacking errors while Plattsburgh State hit -.385 in the frame. The Hawks continued adding to their advantage throughout the set and cruised to a 25-12 win to finish off the sweep.
New Paltz held Plattsburgh State to a -.119 hitting percentage for the match and finished with a 31-20 advantage in kills and a 9-4 edge in total blocks.
Boyle paced a balanced Hawks attack with eight kills, while Stragalas followed with seven. Balbona added six kills and seven total blocks, including two solo stops, while Konopa put away five kills on eight attempts without an error to hit .625.
Savage dished out 24 assists and Braun finished with 11 digs and three service aces as the Hawks closed the day with a win.
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