NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Despite winning the second set, the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team fell, 3-1 (25-10, 20-25, 25-15, 25-9), to reigning State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champion SUNY New Paltz in conference action Saturday afternoon at the Hawk Center.
 
The Cardinals limited the Hawks to .025 hitting in that second set, but New Paltz wound up hitting .245 for the match behind a .478 clip in the first set, a .267 mark in the third set and a .412 performance in the fourth set. The Hawks finished with the upper hand in service aces (10-9) and digs (65-44), while both teams tallied three blocks.
 
Plattsburgh State slips to 7-15 overall (0-7 SUNYAC) with the loss and next visits North Country rival St. Lawrence University on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. New Paltz rises to 10-10 overall (5-4 SUNYAC) with the win and next hosts Western Connecticut State University on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. The Hawks locked up a spot in the SUNYAC Tournament with the victory.
 
While the Cardinals scored the first three points of the match on a pair of service aces by junior setter/defensive specialist Allyssa Rock (West Chazy, N.Y./Beekmantown) and a kill by junior outside hitter Rachel Mennonna (Selden, N.Y./Newfield), the Hawks went on a four-point surge to take a 4-3 lead. The two teams traded points until New Paltz scored nine straight points to break open a 15-6 advantage, and the Hawks ended up winning the first, 25-10.
 
Plattsburgh State took a 6-2 lead in the second set before New Paltz countered with a 5-0 run to seize a 7-6 edge. The Cardinals scored eight of the next nine points to stake themselves to a 14-8 advantage, and the Hawks continued to claw back, eventually drawing within 19-17. A 3-0 spurt capped off by a kill by senior outside hitter Megan Hyde (Schenectady, N.Y./Schalmont) opened up a 22-17 Cardinal lead, and Plattsburgh State went on to win the second, 25-20.
 
Both teams traded points early in the third, but a 9-3 New Paltz run helped the home team build a 19-13 lead. After a kill by Mennonna and a Hawk attack error, New Paltz scored the final six points of the set to win the third, 25-15.
 
A pair of seven-point surges in the fourth ultimately helped the Hawks cruise to a 25-9 victory in the set, which clinched the match and a playoff berth for New Paltz.
 
Mennonna and junior middle blocker Michelle Simmons (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly) paced the attack with eight and seven kills, respectively, while Rock dished out 14 assists and served up three aces. Mennonna tallied team-highs in both service aces (4) and digs (15), while Simmons posted two total blocks (one solo, one assist).
 
For New Paltz, senior outside hitter Maddie Van Pelt notched a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs, while senior libero Nicole Fellone defended 17 digs. Junior setters Carleigh Carr and Haley Timarky combined for 30 assists to pace the Hawk offense, while junior middle hitter Demi Herasme recorded three total blocks (one solo, two assist).