SCHENECTADY, NY — Freshman outside hitter Melinda DiGiovanna (West Hempstead, NY) was named the Most Valuable Player of the regional and had 22 killsand 14 digs to lead SUNY New Paltz to a 3-2 win over Fredonia State in the Championship Match of the 2008 NCAA Division III Union Regional at Union College’s Viniar Athletic Center Saturday night. The Hawks, 32-9, won the regional title in their first ever NCAA appearance, while Fredonia, also in the tourney for the first time, finishes 29-10. Match scores for the New Paltz triumph were 24-26, 25-23, 26-24, 25-14 and 15-11.
Junior middle hitter Brittany Coyle (Middletown, NY) and junior setter Stephanie Bova (Central Square, NY) joined DiGiovanna on the All Regional Team. Coyle finished with 16 kills and seven blocks, while Bova dished out 56 assists, 12 digs, six kills and three aces. Senior Samantha Prudente (Huntington Station, NY) and junior Alison Kiernan (New Hyde Park, NY) each finished with eight kills. Senior libero Nicole Mercadante (Baldwinsville, NY) led the defensive effort with 25 digs and junior right side Lauren Hogue (Burnt Hills, NY) added 13 digs.
New Paltz dropped the first game 26-24 before coming bouncing back to claim set two 25-23. The Hawks appeared on its way in the third set, leading 24-20, but Fredonia scored the final six points to lead 2-1. Set four featured a strong run by New Paltz, scoring nine straight for a 16-7 lead en route to a 25-14 win. The fifth set was a 15-11 New Paltz triumph, as the Hawks jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never trailed, leading by as many as eight (13-5). On the night, New Paltz hit .256 with 23 blocks while Fredonia hit .202 with nine blocks.
New Paltz will advance to the National Quarterfinals, November 20 at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois. The Hawks will face Laverne (25-2).
