New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz won its ninth consecutive victory after earning a four-set win (20-25, 26-24, 25-21, 30-28) over visiting Nichols College Wednesday night in the Hawk Center.
 
The Hawks (17-5 overall) were back in action for the first time since collecting a pair of upset victories over No. 1 Springfield and No. 4 Stevens last week, setting up for a potential trap game against a scrappy Bison team that forced No. 8 SUNY New Paltz into extended sets in the second and fourth.
 
Nichols took the first set by five points and narrowly came back to take a 2-0 lead in the second. After the period was tied at 13, a kill by Matt Teplansky allowed the Hawks to side out, handing the ball to Geoff Ndoria on the service line where he aced and then helped with a kill to push the hosts in front, which they never relinquished the rest of the set.
 
However, Nichols wouldn't go down easily, as it climbed back in to eventually tie the score once again at 23-all following a hitting error from the Hawks. Nikko Tenedorio made up for the miss-hit with a kill, swinging through two blockers on the outside to create set point. Serving specialist Matt Kudlinski subbed in to try and finalize the stanza, but his serve was too strong, and the score was tied once more at 24. The Bison handed SUNY New Paltz set point again, as a long rally concluded with a swing into the net. An attacking error sealed the 26-24 victory for the Hawks, tying the match at 1-1.  
 
Kudlinski made up for the miscue from the second, subbing back in in the third and served for ace with Nichols unable to keep the ball up for the reception error to lift SUNY New Paltz to a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
 
Tenedorio brought his team a quick 5-1 advantage to begin the fourth, capping a run with an ace. The Hawks led until an 8-2 run by the Bison brought the visitors their first lead at 18-17 — made official with an ace that fell between two Hawks. Nichols gave the ball right back though, serving long on the next point and Tenedorio re-upped the advantage with a kill on a serve in from Ndoria.  
The Bison rallied and regained control thanks to a kill and a block to secure set point at 24-23. A serving error following by a kill from Ndoria gave SUNY New Paltz match point, but the two teams continued to trade points with the Bison refusing to go home. Finally, Tenedorio sided out for one final time with the sophomore serving the following point, which led to a game-winning block from Teplansky and Krish Jain to seal the four-set victory for the Hawks.
 
Tenedorio led the team with 17.5 points on 15 kills (.206), an ace three block assists and seven digs. Ndoria followed with 16.5 points on 15 kills (.385), an assist, an ace, a block assist and six digs. Jain was huge at the net, as the senior tallied six kills on 11 attempts with a game-high seven blocks (one solo, six assisted) with six digs and 10 points. Matt Marusza facilitated the offense and tallied a game-high 46 points and nine digs.
 

SUNY New Paltz is back in the Hawk Center Saturday, hosting United Volleyball Conference rival Nazareth in the Hawk Center at 1 p.m. on Senior Day.

 
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