PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State volleyball team played in its final two State University of New York Athletic Conference matches of the season on Saturday, dropping straight set contests to Cortland and Brockport at the Hawk Center on the campus of New Paltz.
The Cardinals' record falls to 7-18 on the season and 1-8 in conference matches.
MATCH ONE: SUNY Cortland 3, Plattsburgh State 0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-22)The Cardinals were unable to show a consistent offensive attack, as the Red Dragons never trailed in the first two sets.
Freshman
Izzy Ruff tallied two straight kills to bring Plattsburgh State to a 6-5 deficit in the first set, but from there on Cortland seized control. The Cardinals committed seven errors and were also limited to a .108 hit percentage.
Cortland was strongest in the second set, hitting .323 while only committing three errors. A commanding 8-1 lead called for a Plattsburgh State timeout, but the Red Dragons continued to build their lead, scoring the final three points of the frame to win 25-13.
The blocking combination of
Sam Colombo and
Noelle Miller helped the Cardinals take a 4-3 lead in the third set, though the Red Dragons strung off most of their points in bunches to create a lead that they would not relinquish.
Colombo tied for a game-high with 10 kills, also finishing with a team-high 14 digs.
Jordynne Ales collected 13 digs, while
Izzy Ruff had 12.
Sydney Gabriel scored a game-high 27 assists.
The Red Dragons had a balanced offensive attack, as Nicole Silberer, Amanda May, and Janine Patora finished with 10, nine, and eight kills respectively. Sarah Piacentini led the way with 13 digs, and Vanessa Carmesin dished out 25 assists.
MATCH TWO: The College at Brockport 3, Plattsburgh State 0 (25-19, 25-14, 30-28)The Cardinals faced their toughest opponent of the season in their final conference match of 2015, as Brockport entered play with just one defeat on the season, overshadowed by 27 victories.
The Cardinals dropped the first two sets, but the third brought out some bright spots.
Not wanting to go down quietly, Plattsburgh State scored six straight points in the third to take a 7-4 lead.
Sam Colombo and
Izzy Ruff each had terminations during that stretch.
Brockport evened matters up at 18-18, but two straight Golden Eagle errors gave the Cardinals a two-point advantage.
The two squads traded points until it seemed likely the Cardinals were going to force a fourth set.
Plattsburgh State failed to capitalize on two set points, however, while Brockport would put away the Cardinals on a DeAnna Whittemore kill to take the set 30-28, and the match in straight sets.
Sam Colombo smacked down 11 kills to lead Plattsburgh State. The freshman out of Patchogue, N.Y., registered at least 10 terminations in six of nine SUNYAC matches.
Jordynne Ales notched a game-high 14 digs, and
Sydney Gabriel handed out 27 assists.
The Golden Eagles, who hit at a .258 clip for the match, were led by Ashley Capone with 11 kills, and Kayla Barber with 10. Maddy Taylor had 13 digs, while Noelle Poloncarz finished with 37 assists.
Plattsburgh State will play its final three matches of the season next weekend at the Oneonta Dig Pink Invitational. The Cardinals' first match will come against Ithaca College on Friday night. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.
