Box Score 1 CANTON, N.Y. – Navigating the defensive scheme of St. Lawrence proved to be a rather difficult task for the Plattsburgh State volleyball team on Friday night as the Cardinals dropped their first match of the season by a 3-1 tally to the Saints at Burkman Gymnasium on Friday night.
Taking part in their first game of the 2014 Victory Promotions Invitational, Plattsburgh State (2-1) cobbled together an attack percentage of .035 on the night and struggled to keep up with the Saints. St. Lawrence returned to the .500 mark (3-3) by way of its latest victory.
After dropping the first two sets of the non-conference bout by 25-17 and 25-18 set scores, the Cardinals crept to within 2-1 thanks in large part to the service game of junior Emily Miller. The AuSable Forks, N.Y., product kick-started a Plattsburgh State rally by hammering down a number of her six service aces during the Cardinals' come-from-behind triumph in the third set.
Plattsburgh State was aided by a number of St. Lawrence errors in the frame, but the Saints were able to make the necessary adjustments between sets and escape with a 3-1 win by way of a 25-16 triumph in set four.
Miller, as well as senior Maggie Schrantz, posted team-highs in kills by amassing six each. Noelle Miller added five kills of her own while leading the squad with an attack percentage of .214.
Miranda Sheffer enjoyed a well-rounded match, collecting four service aces and another four kills by the time all was said and done. Meghan Clifford passed out a team-high 23 assists while Jackie Mariotti amassed a team-best 12 digs on the defensive side of things.
Later in the evening, the Cardinals found it difficult to rebound in their exhibition match against Cegep Andre-Laurendeau – as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of their rivals from the north.
The Cardinals came out swinging, taking the first set by a 25-20 tally before dropping the final three sets of the confrontation by 25-19, 25-20 and 25-8.
Plattsburgh State will conclude its four-game slate at the Victory Promotions Invitational by facing off against SUNYIT at 11 a.m. on Saturday before concluding the day with a 2 p.m. match at SUNY Potsdam.
