PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team celebrated the reopening of the Memorial Hall Gymnasium in grand fashion, defeating Russell Sage College, 3-1 (25-27, 25-16, 25-14, 25-13), at the Cardinal Classic on Friday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.
 
The Cardinals owned a 13-8 edge in service aces and a 73-67 advantage in digs while hitting .180 as a team and limiting the Gators to a -.022 hitting percentage. Russell Sage held a 3-2 cushion in blocks.
 
First-year right side Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall) shined in her collegiate debut, flooring 11 kills while adding three digs and a block assist. Senior setter Emma Rivers (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown West) posted a 22-assist, 12-dig double-double in addition to landing five service aces, while first-year outside hitter Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas/Bishop Lynch) defended a match-high 21 digs and added seven kills in her first collegiate match. Sophomore middle hitter Jeannette Ashong (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) also contributed offensively with eight kills and three aces.
 
For Russell Sage, junior defensive specialist Macey Salvione led the way with seven kills and 18 digs, while sophomore setter Emma Freidel registered a double-double with 18 assists and 10 digs.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 1-0 overall with the win and hosts SUNY Poly (11 a.m.) and SUNY Potsdam (1 p.m.) tomorrow to close out action at the Cardinal Classic. Russell Sage, which falls to 0-1 overall with the loss, takes on Potsdam (11 a.m.) and SUNY Poly (1 p.m.) tomorrow.
 
The Cardinals controlled the momentum early in the first set, with Ashong and Girma punctuating a 4-1 run with a pair of kills to put the home team up, 13-7. The Gators countered with a 4-1 spurt of their own, and the two teams traded points before a 4-1 Russell Sage surge drew the visitors within one at 20-19. Plattsburgh State brought up set point following a service error, but the Gators tied the score at 24-all after a Cardinal service error and a service ace by sophomore outside hitter Shea Bryant. Another Russell Sage service error brought up set point once again, but the Gators scored three straight points to close out the set, taking the first by a 27-25 score.
 
In the second set, Plattsburgh State jumped out to a 6-1 lead, and while Russell Sage drew within six at 19-13 following a 4-0 run, the Cardinals scored six of the final nine points of the second set, taking the second, 25-16.
 
Plattsburgh State scored points in bunches in the third set, with Collyear capping off a 7-1 tear with a kill midway through the frame to put the Cardinals up, 18-7. Russell Sage scored consecutive points just twice down the stretch, and Plattsburgh State claimed the third set, 25-14.
 
The Gators' only lead during the second, third and fourth sets came when sophomore middle hitter Allison Louque posted a solo block on the first rally of the fourth, but nine straight Cardinal points—four of which came off Rivers service aces—broke the set open in favor of Plattsburgh State. The Cardinals continued to cruise throughout the remainder of the stanza, and a Collyear kill sealed a 25-13 win in the fourth and a match victory.