NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team fell to the defending conference champion, The College at Brockport, by a 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-14) final on Friday afternoon in a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) match hosted at SUNY New Paltz's Hawk Center.
 
Brockport held the upper hand in hitting percentage, hitting at a .297 clip while limiting Plattsburgh State to .061 hitting. The Cardinals did post eight service aces to the Golden Eagles' three, while Brockport outblocked Plattsburgh State, 4-1.
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 10-11 overall (1-3 SUNYAC) with the loss and next faces SUNY Geneseo (10 a.m.) and host New Paltz (12:30 p.m.) tomorrow. Brockport rises to 17-2 overall (4-0 SUNYAC) with the win and clashes with New Paltz (10 a.m.) and Geneseo (12:30 p.m.) tomorrow.
 
In the first set, the Cardinals broke a 9-all tie by scoring four straight points, and a service ace by sophomore setter Sydney Gabriel (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) put Plattsburgh State in front, 13-9, forcing a Brockport timeout. The two teams traded points before the Golden Eagles reversed their fortunes by going on a 7-0 run to claim an 18-15 lead. Brockport did not relinquish the advantage the rest of the stanza and prevailed, 25-20, in set one.
 
Plattsburgh State jumped out to a large lead in the second, using a seven-point spurt to stake itself to an 11-5 cushion. Brockport came within striking distance after responding with a 5-0 run, and the Cardinals staved off their opponent until a modest 3-0 scoring spree handed the Golden Eagles a 16-15 edge. The two teams battled back and forth before Brockport closed the set by scoring five unanswered points to win the second, 25-20.
 
The Cardinals challenged the Golden Eagles early in the third, but an 11-2 Brockport run staked the defending conference champions to a 24-13 lead. After an attacking error brought the serve back to Plattsburgh State, Brockport closed the set and the match by forcing an attacking error.
 
Freshman outside hitter/right side Hunter Grotjohn (Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon) paced the Cardinal attack with nine kills and also added a team-high 18 digs. Gabriel handed out 23 assists, while freshman defensive specialist Bryanne Yasui (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua) landed three service aces and defended 16 digs.
 
For Brockport, sophomore outside hitter DeAnna Ortiz-Whittemore led the way with 15 kills, while junior setter Noelle Poloncarz distributed 32 assists. Sophomore defensive specialist Maddy Taylor paced the back row defensively with 22 digs, while freshman middle blocker Kelly Waters and freshman outside hitter Lindsey Luce each posted three block assists.