BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team hung tough with defending State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champion SUNY Brockport but ultimately fell by a 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-16) final to the host Golden Eagles in conference action Saturday afternoon at the Jim and John Vlogianitis Gym.
 
Buoyed by a .188 mark in the second set, the Cardinals hit .071 for the match, while the Golden Eagles hit .176. Brockport held an 8-2 edge in service aces and a 54-41 margin in digs, while Plattsburgh State won the battle at the net defensively with seven blocks to Brockport's three.
 
Plattsburgh State falls to 7-11 overall (1-6 SUNYAC) with the loss and next hosts St. Lawrence University on Thursday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. Brockport rises to 12-6 overall (3-2 SUNYAC) with the win and next hosts Buffalo State on Friday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m.
 
While the Golden Eagles hopped out to an early lead in the first set and extended the advantage, the Cardinals used a 3-0 run to draw within 21-12 following a solo block by junior outside hitter/opposite Jenn Braun (Garrison, N.Y./Walter Panas). Brockport scored four of the final six points of the set to win the first, 25-14.
 
The two teams went back and forth in the early going of the second set, and a block assist by senior middle hitter Alicia Fisher (Brooklyn, N.Y./Science Skills) and Braun pulled the Cardinals within 16-14. Brockport scored six of the next seven points, however, to build the cushion it needed to take the second, 25-17.
 
Brockport started out the third set with a 7-1 lead, but Braun posted two kills in a 4-0 Cardinal run to trim the gap to 7-5. Both teams continued to trade points until a 7-1 Golden Eagle surge put the home team in front, 22-14. While a Fisher kill and a Brockport hitting error broke up the run, the Golden Eagles scored the match's final three points to prevail in the third, 25-16.
 
Senior outside hitter/opposite Meghan O'Brien (Marietta, N.Y./Marcellus) keyed the Cardinal attack with six kills, while senior setter Olga Muka (Hicksville, N.Y./Holy Trinity Diocesan) distributed 11 assists. Defensively, senior libero/defensive specialist Maddy Zophy (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) and sophomore defensive specialist/outside hitter Payton Zophy (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) defended 15 and 13 digs, respectively, while Braun finished with five total blocks (one solo, four assist).
 
For Brockport, junior opposite Jordan Thompson and sophomore outside hitter Megan Loomis led the way offensively with eight and seven kills, respectively, while senior setter Kerri McHale doled out 24 assists. Senior defensive specialist Shelby Budnick posted 13 digs, while Loomis defended nine digs and landed three service aces.