NEW PALTZ, NY — The women’s volleyball team defeated NYU 3-2 in dramatic fashion Wednesday, October 10. The Hawks (18-6) claimed the first two games 31-29, 30-27. NYU fought back claiming games three and four 3-26, 30-26. The teams fought to the end but it was the Hawks that prevailed 15-13 as a part of senior night. It is the first time the Hawks have defeated NYU under head coach Matt Giufre.
Leading the way for New Paltz was senior Kim Braga who recorded a team-high 16 kills with hitting a .412. Sophomore Brittany Coyle added 13 kills and four blocks while Samantha Prudente added a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs. Senior Katie Becofsky finished with 38 assists, seven kills and 18 digs. Junior Nicole Mercadante collected 14 digs and senior Lindsey Brown chipped in with six kills and seven assists.
In game one the Hawks led 18-10 before NYU started a run to even the game at 20-20. The Hawks used three kills and two attack errors to go up 25-20 but it was far from over as the Violets fought back to tie the game at 28-28 and take the lead on an attack error by New Paltz. New Paltz sealed the next three points on a Braga kill, NYU attack error and the final point on a kill by Prudente. The second game was even at 27-27, before the Hawks used three kills from Coyle to end the game 30-27. In the third game the two teams battled and tied the game 11 different times with the last one coming at 25-25. NYU outscored the Hawks 5-1 to end the game using three kills, one ace and a New Paltz error. In the fourth game the Hawks jumped out to an early 9-4 lead before NYU tallied the next five points for an even game. At 19-19, NYU used an attacking error by New Paltz to take the lead for good and end the game 30-26. In the fifth game, it was tied at 11 each when New Paltz got a kill from Amanda Brown and two attack errors from NYU for the 14-11 lead. NYU brought the game back to within one, 14-13 before Braga put the game away on the final kill of the night.
The Hawks return to action this weekend when they travel to Schenectady to take part in the SUNY/Liberty Challenge.
