PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Despite a tightly contested first set, the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (25-22, 25-10, 25-12) decision to two-time defending State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champion SUNY Cortland in conference action on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Hall.
 
The Red Dragons hit .265 (41-11-113) for the match and owned an 8-3 advantage in service aces and a 7-3 edge in blocks. The Cardinals held a slight 50-49 differential in digs.
 
First-year outside hitter Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas/Bishop Lynch) keyed the Cardinal attack with eight kills, while senior libero Payton Zophy (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) kept her SUNYAC lead in digs per set (5.56) by defending 20 digs for the afternoon. Sophomore middle hitter Jeannette Ashong (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) finished with three total blocks (one solo, two assist) to lead the front row defensively.
 
For Cortland, junior right side Anna Pilkey posted a 10-kill, 13-dig double-double, while junior libero Mikenzie Martens defended 11 digs. Junior setter Ryan Hinshaw and graduate student setter Meadow Wittman combined for 30 assists, while junior middle hitter Alexa Guedez finished with nine kills and four total blocks (one solo, three assist).
 
Plattsburgh State falls to 8-7 overall (1-3 SUNYAC) with the loss and next hosts SUNY Potsdam on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m. Cortland rises to 14-3 overall (3-0 SUNYAC) with the win and entertains SUNY Oneonta on Friday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m.
 
While Cortland appeared in control early in the first set and ultimately constructed an 18-12 lead, Girma floored three kills in a 7-1 run to tie the score at 19-all. The Red Dragons scored two straight points, and while the two teams sided each other out for the next few points, Cortland received kills from sophomore outside hitter Emalee Ballou and Guedez to seal a 25-22 win in the first.
 
The Red Dragons jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the second set, and while two kills by Girma and a service ace by senior defensive specialist Shannon Fitzpatrick (Westtown, N.Y./Rhinebeck) helped the Cardinals in a modest 3-1 run midway through the stanza to draw the home team within 10, Cortland pulled away and took the second, 25-10.
 
Cortland once again used early-set momentum to carry itself through the third, taking a 9-1 advantage. Plattsburgh State's high-water mark in the third set occurred when it went on a 6-1 tear to pull within 21-11, but the Red Dragons wound up scoring five of the match's final six points in a 25-12 set-three win.