CANTON, N.Y. – A slow start by the Plattsburgh State volleyball team cost it a season sweep of SUNY foe SUNY Canton as the Cardinals dropped a 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21) decision to the Kangaroos at Roos House on Tuesday (Oct. 9).
 
Plattsburgh State falls to 9-12 in 2012 while the Kangaroos improve to 16-2 on the season. One of the losses registered by SUNY Canton came at the hands of the Cardinals at the 2012 Cardinal Classic back in September.
 
After swapping points early on the first frame, a 5-1 run by the home team put the Cardinals in an 8-4 hole that they never could climb out of. The Kangaroos were able to maintain the offensive efficiency that the Cardinals never could attain, hitting .294 in the set with 17 kills, compared to a .081 mark and just six kills by Plattsburgh State.
 
Trailing 14-10, the visitors surrendered a game-clinching 11-3 run to fall behind 1-0. Another quick Canton run, this one of the 6-1 variety, greeted Plattsburgh State rudely to begin the second frame. Four of those points were unfortunately made possible by attack errors by the Cardinals themselves.
 
Despite being hindered initially by the slow start, Plattsburgh State stormed back to take a 17-16 lead thanks to a kill from Rosi Cummings. That lead, though, was the only one the Cardinals would possess in the frame as a 5-0 run from the Kangaroos gave them control of the set once again.
 
Thanks to the service game of Cummings, the Cardinals were able to fight off five potential patch points by the Kangaroos before an untimely service error terminated the bid for extra points and left the Cardinals staring at a 2-0 deficit.
 
Laura Diehl started the third set off with a bang, smashing home a kill which was assisted by Kristen Marchisatto. That particular termination proved to be the start of something good for the Cardinals, who were forced to trade points early on with the Kangaroos before employing a 4-0 spurt to take a 14-10 lead.
 
The Kangaroos, though, sought to put an early end to the match, using a 10-3 run of their own to take a 21-17 lead before Cummings and Abby Mell decided to do something about it. A pair of kills from Cummings followed by a service ace from Mell gave the Cardinals momentum once again. After a pair of Kangaroo attack errors, the Cardinals found themselves with a 22-21 advantage. From there, Diehl took over and provided a kill and a solo block to help Plattsburgh State win set three 25-22.
 
Looking to force a decisive fifth set, the Cardinals jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the fourth frame and held the lead until SUNY Canton was finally forced to call a timeout with the Cardinals on top 10-7. Five kills and a pair of blocks did the majority of the damage during the opening run before three straight points from the home team tied things at 10.
 
Eventually the Cardinals grabbed control once again by opening up a 19-15 lead before things turned sour. A pair of kills by the Kangaroos and an attack error by Theresa Lilly knotted things up at 20, and the home team seized control from there.
 
Maggie Schrantz tied things up one final time, at 21-all, before an all-around assault of two kills, a block and a service ace clinched the game for the Kangaroos.
 
Despite outhitting the Kangaroos .167 to .151 in the deciding set, the home team held a .128 to .092 advantage in that department over the course of the game. The Cardinals did boast a strong front net presence, though, out-blocking their counterparts eight to five.
 
Cummings led the Cardinals with a team-high 14 kills and completed another double-double with a team-high 25 digs. Lilly contributed 10 terminations on 45 swings and dug out 20 balls for a double-double.
 
Diehl enjoyed another fine outing, with eight kills and seven digs to go along with a block solo and four block assists.
 
Danielle Swanson and Morgan Bills led the Kangaroos with 12 and 11 kills respectively. Robyn Carroll produced a game-high 33 digs, but the Cardinals held an advantage in that department as well, 103-98.
 
After two days off, the Cardinals will make a trip to Oneonta to take part in the HartwickCANTON, N.Y. – A slow start by the Plattsburgh State volleyball team cost it a season sweep of SUNY foe SUNY Canton as the Cardinals dropped a 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21) decision to the Kangaroos at Roos House on Tuesday (Oct. 9).
 
Plattsburgh State falls to 9-12 in 2012 while the Kangaroos improve to 16-2 on the season. One of the losses registered by SUNY Canton came at the hands of the Cardinals at the 2012 Cardinal Classic back in September.
 
After swapping points early on the first frame, a 5-1 run by the home team put the Cardinals in an 8-4 hole that they never could climb out of. The Kangaroos were able to maintain the offensive efficiency that the Cardinals never could attain, hitting .294 in the set with 17 kills, compared to a .081 mark and just six kills by Plattsburgh State.
 
Trailing 14-10, the visitors surrendered a game-clinching 11-3 run to fall behind 1-0. Another quick Canton run, this one of the 6-1 variety, greeted Plattsburgh State rudely to begin the second frame. Four of those points were unfortunately made possible by attack errors by the Cardinals themselves.
 
Despite being hindered initially by the slow start, Plattsburgh State stormed back to take a 17-16 lead thanks to a kill from Rosi Cummings. That lead, though, was the only one the Cardinals would possess in the frame as a 5-0 run from the Kangaroos gave them control of the set once again.
 
Thanks to the service game of Cummings, the Cardinals were able to fight off five potential patch points by the Kangaroos before an untimely service error terminated the bid for extra points and left the Cardinals staring at a 2-0 deficit.
 
Laura Diehl started the third set off with a bang, smashing home a kill which was assisted by Kristen Marchisatto. That particular termination proved to be the start of something good for the Cardinals, who were forced to trade points early on with the Kangaroos before employing a 4-0 spurt to take a 14-10 lead.
 
The Kangaroos, though, sought to put an early end to the match, using a 10-3 run of their own to take a 21-17 lead before Cummings and Abby Mell decided to do something about it. A pair of kills from Cummings followed by a service ace from Mell gave the Cardinals momentum once again. After a pair of Kangaroo attack errors, the Cardinals found themselves with a 22-21 advantage. From there, Diehl took over and provided a kill and a solo block to help Plattsburgh State win set three 25-22.
 
Looking to force a decisive fifth set, the Cardinals jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the fourth frame and held the lead until SUNY Canton was finally forced to call a timeout with the Cardinals on top 10-7. Five kills and a pair of blocks did the majority of the damage during the opening run before three straight points from the home team tied things at 10.
 
Eventually the Cardinals grabbed control once again by opening up a 19-15 lead before things turned sour. A pair of kills by the Kangaroos and an attack error by Theresa Lilly knotted things up at 20, and the home team seized control from there.
 
Maggie Schrantz tied things up one final time, at 21-all, before an all-around assault of two kills, a block and a service ace clinched the game for the Kangaroos.
 
Despite outhitting the Kangaroos .167 to .151 in the deciding set, the home team held a .128 to .092 advantage in that department over the course of the game. The Cardinals did boast a strong front net presence, though, out-blocking their counterparts eight to five.
 
Cummings led the Cardinals with a team-high 14 kills and completed another double-double with a team-high 25 digs. Lilly contributed 10 terminations on 45 swings and dug out 20 balls for a double-double.
 
Diehl enjoyed another fine outing, with eight kills and seven digs to go along with a block solo and four block assists.
 
Danielle Swanson and Morgan Bills led the Kangaroos with 12 and 11 kills respectively. Robyn Carroll produced a game-high 33 digs, but the Cardinals held an advantage in that department as well, 103-98.
 
After two days off, the Cardinals will make a trip to Oneonta to take part in the Hartwick/Holiday Inn Invitational on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 12-13). First up on Friday will be a matchup with Lebanon Valley College at 4:30 p.m., before a confrontation with Hartwick College at 8:30 p.m.