Women’s Volleyball Advances to SUNYAC Semifinals

CORTLAND, NY — The women’s volleyball team traveled to Cortland this afternoon for the SUNYAC tournament. New Paltz, the #2 seed in the East, defeated Geneseo, the #3 seed in the West 3-0 (30-26, 30-28, 30-27) to advance to the SUNYAC semifinals against Fredonia on Friday at 6pm.

Senior Katie Becofsky handed out 40 assists and ten digs. Junior Amanda Brown and sophomore Brittany Coyle each finished with 12 kills. Sophomore Lauren Hogue chipped in with 10 kills and senior Kim Braga totaled seven kills. Junior Nicole Mercadante collected 13 digs.

In game one the Hawks led 27-16 before the Knights cut the lead to 27-21. Geneseo then closed the gap to 28-25 before the final score. Amanda Brown earned the final point for the Hawks on a tip over the Geneseo blockers for the 30-26 final.

In game two, New Paltz won 30-28 after a hard fought back and fourth battle with six ties. The Hawks tied the game at 23-23 on a kill by Lauren Hogue before the Hawks had a hitting error out of play for the Knights to lead by one. The Hawks evened the game on a long serve by Geneseo, but trailed on a Knights kill but was even again at 25-25 on another long serve by Geneseo. New Paltz then served short, followed by a kill by Brown for the 26-26 score. Geneseo used a timeout and resumed play with a kill by Courtney Nash. Brown answered with a kill of her own for another tie game at 27-27. New Paltz attacked out of play but responded with a kill by Brittany Coyle and took the lead 29-28 on a point by Nicole Mercadante. Samantha Prudente put the game away with a kill for the final score.

In game three, New Paltz trailed 24-19 before the going on a 7-0 run before the Knights stopped the run on a block. The game tied 26-26 on a kill by Geneseo’s Kate Barth before Brown responded with a kill to give New Paltz the 27-26 lead. The Hawks jumped ahead 28-26 on a Geneseo attack error before the Knight’s earned the point back on a kill. The Hawks closed the game out on a kill by Brittany Coyle and an out of play ball by the Knights for the final 30-27.