PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team dropped a pair of contests to close out the Cardinal Classic, falling to Potsdam 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 25-20, 25-11) before dropping a 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-19) decision against Saint Michael's.

Plattsburgh falls to 0-3 overall and next travels to Skidmore on Sep. 6 for the Skidmore Classic opening up play against Nazareth at 5 p.m. Potsdam moves to 1-1 and next play Smith on Sep. 6 at 7 p.m. while Saint Michael's is back in action on Sep. 7 with a match against Plymouth State at 4 p.m.

Potsdam 3, Plattsburgh 1 (25-18, 25-20, 25-20, 25-11)

Potsdam had a slight edge in service aces 10-9 and had a 63-59 advantage in digs. The Cardinals had three blocks on the day while Potsdam had six.

Sophomore outside hitter Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas) led all players with 18 kills tying her career high while also registering 18 digs for a double-double on the night. Junior outside hitter Maggie Lyon (Ballston Spa, N.Y. / Ballston Spa) contributed to the offense with eight kills. Junior setter Kyleigh Ganz (Phoenix, Ariz.) was key in the Cardinals' attack with 33 assists, a new career-high. Sophomore right-side hitter Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas) had an impact at the net as she registered two blocks to go with her seven kills on the day.

For Potsdam, Alyssa Adams led her team in kills with 13 and Megan Henry led all players in digs with 21.

After trading points several times, the Cardinals scored three straight led by two kills from Girma that made the score 7-5 Cardinals. After a kill from middle blocker Katie Salphine (Le Roy, N.Y. / Le Roy), the Cardinals continued to add going on a 6-2 run that made the score 14-8. A 5-0 run from the Bears made the score 16-14 Cardinals. Four straight points from the Cardinals made the score 22-16 propelling them to a 25-18 win in the first set.

The Cardinals scored three straight to start the second set to which the Bears responded with four of their own that made the score 4-3 Bears. The Bears went on a 6-0 run and extended their lead to 10-5. The Cardinals battled back and took the lead after a 4-0 run made the score 14-13. The Bears were quick to respond with three straight points and regained the lead 16-14. The Cardinals tied the game at 18 off of a kill from Girma. With the score tied at 20, the Bears scored the next five points taking the second set.

The Cardinals started the third set with a 3-0 run before a Ganz service error put the Bears on the board. A 4-0 run from the Bears made the score 6-5 Bears. The set was closely contested as each team went on runs that the other matched as the score was tied at 17 until a 5-0 run from the Bears gave them a 22-17 lead. The Cardinals scored three more points as they fell in the third set 25-20.

The Cardinals started the fourth set with two points followed by two points from the Bears. After both teams traded points, the Bears scored three straight and took a 9-5 lead. A kill from Girma stopped the run but the Bears didn't lose any momentum and scored three more straight points and made the score 12-6 Bears. Another run from the Bears pushed their lead to 16-7 as they pulled away and won the fourth set 25-11.

Saint Michael's 3, Plattsburgh 0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-19)

The Cardinals matched the Purple Knights in aces (7) and blocks (4) while the Purple Knights had a 49-42 advantage in digs.

Girma and Lyon led the Cardinals' attack with nine and six kills respectively while Girma also added nine digs. Ganz had 17 assists to go with her seven digs. Sophomore defensive specialist KC Burke (Murrieta, Calif. / Northfield Mount Hermon) led the team in digs with 16, a new career-high. Ganz, Collyear, and Salphine all registered two blocks.

For Saint Michael's, Nora Shulze led all players with 13 kills while Alexandra Baez Rentas registered a double-double with 18 assists and 14 digs.

After kills from Lyon and Collyear to start the match the Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Purple Knights didn't take long to respond scoring three straight points that made the score 3-2 Purple Knights. A 4-0 run for the Purple Knights extended their lead to 7-3. The Cardinals continued to play the Purple Knights close, but the Purple Knights pushed their lead to 18-10 after a 5-0 run. A 4-0 run from the Cardinals pulled them within four but the Purple Knights held on to their lead winning the first set 25-20.

The Purple Knights controlled the game early with a 7-3 lead, but the Cardinals surged back after a kill from Lyon tied the game at 10. The Purple Knights' momentum didn't go away after the Cardinals' rally as they responded with four straight points that made the score 16-11 Purple Knights. The Cardinals came within four after an attacking error made the score 19-15 but the Purple Knights outscored the Cardinals 7-2 to end the set and won 25-17.

The third set was closely contested throughout with multiple lead changes but back-to-back kills from the Purple Knights gave them a 12-9 lead that they didn't relinquish. The Cardinals scored back-to-back points and pulled within one, but the Purple Knights responded with two of their own and made the score 16-13. The Purple Knights offense continued to score as the Cardinals couldn't match their points and fell 25-19 in the third set.