PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – In what was a back-and-forth affair, the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team dropped a 3-2 (25-16, 14-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-11) decision to Canton in five sets in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action.

The Cardinals had three players register double-digit kills, led by junior outside hitter Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas / Bishop Lynch) with a career-high 20 kills to go with 20 digs for her third straight double-double. Junior outside hitter Iris Mulvey (Middle Island, N.Y. / Longwood) and junior right-side hitter Darby Collyear (Rockwall, N.Y. / Rockwall) contributed to the Cardinal offense with 13 and 10 kills, respectively, while sophomore setter Anabella Almedia (Pine Bush, N.Y. / Pine Bush) recorded a game-high 25 assists. First-year Eimile O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y. / Monroe-Woodbury) notched a double-double as well with 19 assists and 11 digs. Defensively, senior libero Bridget Ryan (Mattituck, N.Y. / Mattituck) led all players in digs with 25 while Mulvey chipped in 11 for a double-double. Up top, Collyear put down five total blocks, while senior middle blocker Sanaia Estime (West Hempstead, N.Y. / West Hempstead) stuffed a career-high four total blocks.

For the Kangaroos, Emerson Coulter led her team with 19 kills, while Lauren Norman led her team with 20 assists. Daycee Bane defended 23 digs, and McKenna Pelech led all players with six total blocks.

While the Cardinals had the advantage in digs 86-81, the Kangaroos had an 8-5 edge in aces, as both teams finished with seven total blocks.

Plattsburgh State drops to 7-10 (1-2 SUNYAC) and next hosts Colby-Sawyer in non-conference action on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. Canton moves to 8-14 (1-3 SUNYAC) and next travels to Fredonia on Friday, Oct. 17.

The Cardinals controlled the first set early, using a 4-0 burst with kills from Girma and Salphine, and took a 9-5 lead before Canton came back and tied the score at 11. Canton used that momentum and went on a 6-0 run to take a 19-13 lead and ultimately took the first set 25-16.

The second set saw Plattsburgh with a 13-11 lead after Mulvey put down back-to-back kills to open three straight points for the Cardinals. Back-to-back kills from Girma pushed the Cardinals' lead to 18-8, and despite a 4-0 run from Canton, Plattsburgh still led 18-12. After both teams traded back-to-back points, the Cardinals scored the next five points as a kill from Mulvey put the finishing touches on a 25-14 set win.

After Canton took an early 11-2 lead, the Cardinals used a 5-0 outburst featuring kills from Mulvey and Kyleigh Ganz (Phoenix, Ariz. / Seton Catholic Prep) to get back in the set 14-9. Plattsburgh continued to battle back and came within three after a 4-0 surge made the score 23-20, but it wasn't enough as Canton took the set 25-22.

Halfway through the fourth set, the Cardinals took a 13-8 lead after getting kills from Ganz, Almeida, and Mulvey. A 5-0 outburst that started with a Mulvey kill and was capped off by a Collyear kill extended the Cardinals' lead to 19-11 as the Cardinals took a 25-18 set victory and forced a fifth and final set.

Canton had momentum early in the fifth set, holding an 8-4 lead, but Plattsburgh rallied back after an ace from Almeida made the score 12-10 Kangaroos. The rally wasn't enough as Canton outscored Plattsburgh 3-1 the rest of the way to win the fifth and final set 15-11 and secure a 3-2 match victory.