NEW YORK – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team lost twice on the final day of the NYU Labor Day Invitational on Saturday at the Hunter Sportsplex, falling, 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-13), to host New York University before dropping a 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 19-25, 25-22) decision to Keene State College.
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 0-4 with the losses and will look to get into the win column on Tuesday, Sept. 6, when it visits North Country rival St. Lawrence University at 6 p.m.
 
NYU 3, Plattsburgh State 0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-13)
 
In a match where the final score did not indicate how close the contest actually was, the Cardinals kept themselves in sets due to strong back-row defense. NYU finished with a .177 hitting percentage and posted nine total teams blocks, which ultimately helped the Violets escape with a straight-set win.
 
Plattsburgh State either had set point on the line or was within striking distance of set point the first two frames.
 
In the first, the Cardinals ran off six straight points to take a 19-16 lead, and after the Violets fought to even the score at 22-all, senior outside hitter/right side Lexi Pascal (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) posted a solo block to give the Cardinals a 23-22 edge. NYU then fired off three straight points to take the first set, 25-23.
 
Plattsburgh State dominated the momentum for most of the second set, with NYU committing several attacking errors in an 8-0 Cardinal run. NYU twice pulled within four midway through the set, but the Cardinals staved off the tournament host and eventually opened the lead up to 22-15. Plattsburgh State even withstood a significant comeback effort by the Violets, with sophomore outside hitter Sam Colombo (Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport) bringing up set point with a kill at 24-21. NYU then rattled off four consecutive points to take a 25-24 advantage, but a service error brought the serve back to the Cardinals. NYU posted back-to-back kills to close out the set, 27-25.
 
Colombo once again was dished the ball early and often, taking 32 swings and landing 11 kills off them for a .250 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Sydney Gabriel (Rockville Centre, N.Y./South Side) doled out 24 assists, while freshman defensive specialist Bryanne Yasui (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua) served up four aces. Freshman outside hitter/right side Hunter Grotjohn (Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon) and Yasui each defended 15 digs, while Colombo came up with 14 of her own to complete the double-double.
 
NYU spread the ball around to several different hitters, with none registering more than nine kills. Running a 6-2 offense, the Violets combined for 34 assists, and defensively, NYU relied on junior middle hitter Rayne Ellis (six total blocks) and junior libero Grace Napolitano (18 digs).
 
Keene State 3, Plattsburgh State 1 (25-23, 25-17, 19-25, 25-22)
 
While the Cardinals limited the Owls to .125 hitting in their final match of the invitational, Plattsburgh State was hurt by .049 hitting of its own. Plattsburgh State did, however, land 11 service aces compared to 10 for Keene State.
 
After dropping the first two sets, the Cardinals fought back to claim the third.
 
Keene State came out of the gates hot in the third set, building up a 6-1 lead. Plattsburgh State, however, was able to chip away at the deficit, and consecutive kills by freshman middle hitter Dani Borunda (Salt Lake City, Utah/West), Colombo and Grotjohn drew the Cardinals within one (10-9). The lead changed hands a few times until Pascal and Grotjohn ignited a 4-0 run, which led to a 19-16 Plattsburgh State advantage. Plattsburgh State never trailed from that point forward, with a Grotjohn kill punctuating the set.
 
The Owls rode an early lead in the fourth throughout the entirety of the set, and while the Cardinals constantly fought to force a fifth set, Keene State built up enough of a cushion to thwart a comeback attempt.
 
Colombo and Grotjohn landed 12 and 11 kills, respectively, while Gabriel handed out 29 assists and added 10 digs for the double-double. Colombo impacted the match beyond her offense, too, finishing with four service aces and 16 digs to complete the double-double. Yasui and junior defensive specialist Jordynne Ales (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) were catalysts in several long rallies, registering 27 and 25 digs, respectively.
 
For Keene State, junior outside hitter Rachel Lamica keyed the offense with 11 kills, while sophomore libero Riley Bunker put up one of the top defensive performances of the invitational, defending a match-high 35 digs.