SUNY New Paltz Women’s Volleyball Team Opens on Even Ground

CORTLAND, NY — This evening the SUNY New Paltz women’s volleyball team opened the 2005 season at the Red Dragon Classic, hosted by Cortland.

In the early match the Hawks outlasted Baptist Bible to a 3-2 victory. SUNY New Paltz took the opening game 30-13 before dropping the next two 22-30 and 21-30. Directed by sophomore setter Katie Becofsky (Altamont, NY) the Hawks handled Baptist Bible (0-1) in the fourth game 30-19 and in the fifth 15-8. Becofsky finished the match with 43 assists.

Senior hitters Andrea Kaiser (Blue Point, NY) and Christina Mazurowski (Tonawanda, NY) led the Hawk’s attack with 13 and 12 kills respectively. Mazurowski joined junior Kim Clouston (Baldwinsville, NY) to provide SUNY New Paltz with six blocks apiece in a superior defensive effort. Clouston also tallied nine digs in the victory.

In the second match of the evening the Hawks fell to Lebanon Valley, 3-1. Lebanon Valley (1-0) took the first two games 30-20 and 30-16. SUNY New Paltz (1-1) managed to pull out a win in game three, 32-30, but failed to hold the momentum and lost game four 30-15. Mazurowski totaled ten kills and five blocks for the Hawks. She was aided by junior setter Jennifer Hembury (Montgomery, NY), who contributed 22 assists, and junior outside hitter Franchesa Rodriguez (Schenectady, NY), who made nine kills. Kaiser posted 14 digs in the loss.

The SUNY New Paltz women’s volleyball team will play two more matches tomorrow, September 3, at the Red Dragon Classic.