PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – First-year outside hitter
Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas/Bishop Lynch) picked up her fifth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 15 digs, helping lead the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 25-10) State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) victory over SUNY Potsdam on Wednesday evening at Memorial Hall.
The Cardinals hit .113 (47-30-151) for the match, which included a .400 (11-1-25) hitting percentage in the fourth set. Plattsburgh State owned a 10-5 advantage in service aces and an 80-62 edge in digs, while both teams finished with five blocks.
Beyond Girma, the Cardinals received yet another strong performance from senior libero
Payton Zophy (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa), who remains the SUNYAC leader in digs per set (5.54). Zophy defended 21 digs and landed three service aces. Senior setter
Emma Rivers (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown West) and sophomore setter/right side
Kyleigh Ganz (Phoenix, Ariz./Seton Catholic Prep) combined for 37 assists, while sophomore defensive specialist
Bridget Ryan (Mattituck, N.Y./Mattituck) notched a career-high-tying 16 digs.
For Potsdam, junior outside hitter Megan Henry led the way with nine kills and 10 digs, while junior right side Alyssa Adams registered eight kills and 12 digs. First-year libero Madison Gilliland posted the team-high in digs with 18, while sophomore setter Sophia Layer distributed 21 assists.
Plattsburgh State rises to 9-7 overall (2-3 SUNYAC) with the win and next hosts Vermont State University Johnson on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. Potsdam falls to 4-12 overall (0-5 SUNYAC) with the loss and next hosts Clarkson University on Friday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m.
Potsdam controlled the momentum early in the first set, building up a 16-10 lead. Plattsburgh State clawed back on the strength of a 7-2 run, and a kill by first-year right side
Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall) drew the Cardinals within one at 18-17. The Bears scored five of the next seven points to go up 23-19, but Plattsburgh State closed the set on a 6-0 tear to win the opening stanza, 25-23.
The Bears hopped out to an 18-13 lead in the second, but the Cardinals stormed back with six unanswered points, with a service ace by senior defensive specialist
Shannon Fitzpatrick (Westtown, N.Y./Rhinebeck) putting Plattsburgh State in front, 19-18. The two teams battled back and forth before Potsdam won the final three rallies of the set to claim the second, 25-23.
A 5-1 Plattsburgh State run midway through the third wound up being the difference in the set, as a Zophy service ace handed the Cardinals a 20-15 advantage. After Potsdam pulled within three at 20-17, the visitors were unable to score consecutive points the rest of the way, as Plattsburgh State took the third set by a 25-19 final.
Plattsburgh State's attack clicked on all cylinders in the fourth set, as the Cardinals opened up a 13-3 lead. After Potsdam scored three straight points to close the gap to 15-8, Plattsburgh State ended the match by scoring 10 of the final 12 points, with a Girma kill sealing a 25-10 match-clinching victory in the fourth.
