NEW PALTZ — New Paltz sandwiched a win between two losses on the second day of the SUNYAC Eastern Division Pool Play at Elting Gymnasium on Saturday.
The (3-26 overall, 2-8 SUNYAC East) Hawks lost to Potsdam (7-15, 11-15, 15-13, 15-7, 16-14) after winning the first two games and were ahead a game before also falling to Plattsburgh (15-17, 15-13, 15-4, 15-12). New Paltz’s win came midway through the day against Utica/Rome – their second victory of the season against the Wildcats – 15-5, 5-15, 15-2, 15-7.
Jennifer Hollis, Elizabeth Hogg and Crystal Smith, in particular, continued to play well for the Hawks.
Smith had 26 digs and 11 kills against Potsdam, while Hogg added 24 digs and 11 kills, Ann Marie Carbone had nine digs, eight kills, seven service aces and Hollis had 35 assists and 15 digs.
Against Utica/Rome, Smith had 15 digs and six kills, while Hogg had 12 digs and six kills and Nicole Older had 12 kills, six digs and two blocks.
And in the nightcap against Plattsburgh, Smith collected 22 digs and 17 kills, while Hogg had 17 digs, five kills, two service aces and two blocks and Hollis added 36 assists, 11 digs and four kills.
This marks the first time in the last seven years that the Hawks will not compete at the SUNYAC Tournament. The past six seasons, New Paltz was the second seed in the East behind perennial national volleyball power Cortland. Instead, Oneonta (8-2 SUNYAC East) and Plattsburgh (6-4) will join Cortland (10-0) at this year’s tournament, which will be hosted by the top seed in the Western Division on October 27-28. The top three teams in each division at the completion of two divisional Pool Play events qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament.
New Paltz resumes regular season play with a match at New York University at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
