PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After splitting the first two sets, the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team dropped the final two sets and fell to Morrisville 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 27-25, 25-16) in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play.

Junior defensive specialist Bridget Ryan (Mattituck, N.Y. / Mattituck) led the Cardinal defense with a career-high 19 digs. On the offensive side, sophomore right-side hitter Iris Mulvey (Middle Island, N.Y. / Longwood) and sophomore outside hitter Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas / Bishop Lynch) had 11 kills each. Junior setter Kyleigh Ganz (Phoenix, Ariz. / Seton Catholic Prep) had 16 assists followed by first-year setter Anabella Almeida (Pine Bush, N.Y. / Pine Bush) with 11. Sophomore middle blocker Katie Salphine (Le Roy, N.Y. / Le Roy) and sophomore right-side hitter Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall) both had three block assists.

For the Mustangs, Cassandra Bellmore led all players in assists with 30 while Emily Huppee led all players in kills with 20. Kylie Hutchinson recorded 19 digs to lead the Mustang defense.

The Cardinals had a 71-64 advantage in digs and held the upper hand in blocks 5-3 while the Mustangs had an 8-6 edge in service aces.

Plattsburgh State moves to 3-15 overall (0-4 SUNYAC) and heads to Canton on Friday, Oct. 18 for a match at 6 p.m. Morrisville moves to 12-6 overall (4-0 SUNYAC) and hosts Oneonta on Friday, Oct. 18.

Both teams traded points to start the first set before a 3-0 run gave the Mustangs a 5-2 edge. Back-to-back points for the Cardinals ended a Mustangs run and made the score 13-9 Mustangs. A 3-0 run for the Cardinals capped off by a service ace from Mulvey gave the Cardinals some momentum. A run from the Mustangs cooled off the Cardinals' offense and gave them a 22-14 lead en route to a 25-17 win.

The two teams battled back and forth early in the first set, and a 4-0 burst from the Cardinals capped off by a kill from Sanaia Estime (West Hempstead, N.Y. / West Hempstead) put them ahead 11-8. After an error made the score 14 all, a kill from Collyear followed by a service ace from Melina Morillo (Bronx, N.Y. / Bronx Latin) put the Cardinals back on top 16-14. The Mustangs responded with a 4-0 surge that gave them the lead momentarily but the Cardinals picked up back-to-back points and tied the score at 18. Trailing 23-21, the Cardinals ripped off a 4-0 run led by two kills from Girma to come back and win the second set 25-23.

The third set was even throughout until a 4-0 tear from the Cardinals that started and ended with a kill from Estime gave them a 17-15 lead. Kills from Collyear and Girma started another run for the Cardinals that pushed their lead to 20-17. The Mustangs didn't go away and scored four straight and took a 21-20 lead. The Cardinals responded with four of their own and took a 24-21 lead but another run from the Mustangs tied the score at 24 and then gave them a 25-24 lead. After the Cardinals tied the score at 25, the Mustangs scored two straight to win a thrilling third set 27-25.

The Mustangs opened up a 7-2 lead before a 3-0 run for the Cardinals made the score 7-5. A service ace from Morillo made the score 11-9 Mustangs but a 5-0 tear from the Mustangs gave them a commanding 17-10 lead. The Cardinals mounted a comeback scoring three straight points to come within four but a 4-0 run from the Mustangs gave them a 21-13 lead and powered them to a 25-16 win to secure a 3-1 match victory.