Springfield, MA — The State University of New York New Paltz lost on the road to No. 1 Springfield Wednesday night in four sets, 26-24, 20-25, 19-25, 21-25.
 
The Hawks dropped to 7-4 overall, while the Pride improved to 7-1 as the hosts earned the win following an extended first set victory from SUNY New Paltz.
 
Matt Teplansky and Nikko Tenedorio were the catalyst in the opening stanza, combining for 10 kills. Tenedorio helped his team to a 20-18 lead after slamming a free ball on a serve from Geoff Ndoria. The Hawks stayed in front until a 3-0 run from Springfield saw the lead change to 22-21 in favor of the Pride, but Daniel Shanley put an end to the stretch with a deceptive kill, dumping the ball over the net to side-out for his team. Ndoria followed up with a kill following a tough serve from Shanley, but Springfield answered with two straight points to gain set point. Tenedorio knotted the score at 24-all, swinging hard for a kill off a set from Shanley. Shanley then spread the love around, going to Ndoria on the outside for a kill that gave SUNY New Paltz set point before setting opposite Teplansky who solidified the 1-0 lead with a kill.
 
The Hawks couldn't match the success from the first and they dropped the second by five points as they never led at any point in the set. A three-point run got the team within three of the Pride, as Ndoria capped the surge with a solo block, but a service error allowed Springfield to side-out. Two points later, the hosts held set point and finished the stanza with a block to claim the 25-20 victory and tie the match at a set apiece.  
The third period was tight with Krish Jain aiding in an 18-16 advantage for the Hawks down the stretch, but an 8-0 run that ensued for the Pride changed inevitably the entire match, as they held set point at 24-18 to eventually take a 2-1 lead two points later following a SUNY New Paltz serving error.
 
Springfield never trailed in the final set. The Hawks kept the score close, getting within one at 19-18, 20-19 and 22-21, but SUNY New Paltz couldn't string together points to get out in front and ultimately, the Pride ended the match with three straight points on a kill, ace and block to earn the four-set victory.
 
Four different Hawks finished with double-figure kills, as the team hit an efficient .291 in the match. Ndoria led the way with 15.5 points on 12 kills, an ace, three blocks and seven digs. Tenedorio followed, totaling 13 points on 11 kills, two aces and three digs. Jain tallied 11 kills on 15 attempts, while Teplansky added 10 kills and six digs. Shanley facilitated the offense, recording 42 assists to go along with three kills, half a block and four digs.
 
SUNY New Paltz struggled slowing down the Pride's offense, which hit .404 on the day including above .500 in the fourth. They out-scored the Hawks, 69-61 with both teams totaling 51 kills with the hosts holding the advantage on the service line, totaling nine aces to four for the visitors.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Friday, as it begins a three-game home slate starting with its first UVC match of the season against St. John Fisher. The Hawks are set to host the Cardinals Friday at 7 p.m. in the Hawk Center.


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