ONEONTA, N.Y. – Despite a strong first set, the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team fell on the road in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action to Oneonta 3-1 (12-25, 25-20, 29-27, 25-21) on Friday night at Dewar Arena. Junior right side hitter Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall) keyed the Cardinal attack with 14 kills for 14 points on the night. 

Plattsburgh's offense got some support from junior outside hitter Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas / Bishop Lynch), who contributed 13 kills, and sophomore setter Anabella Almeida (Pine Bush, N.Y. / Pine Bush) set up the Cardinal attack with 23 assists. First-year setter Emily O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y. / Monroe) had 14 assists to pair with a team-high 18 digs for a double-double. Next in digs was senior libero Bridget Ryan (Mattituck, N.Y. / Mattituck) with 17, while seniors Sanaia Estime (West Hempstead, N.Y. / West Hempstead) and Kyleigh Ganz (Phoenix, Ariz. / Seton Catholic Prep) recorded three total blocks.

For the Red Dragons, Mikayla Kendrick led the team in kills with 10, while Layla Pertchik set up the offense with a game-high 30 assists, and Anna Moller led the defense with a game-high 20 digs.

The Cardinals dominated service aces 10-2 and had a 76-73 edge in digs, but the Red Dragons won the battle up top, owning a 10-5 advantage in blocks.

Plattsburgh State falls to 8-11 (1-3 SUNYAC) and next travels to New Paltz tomorrow, Oct. 18, for a 1 p.m. contest. Oneonta moves to 12-9 (2-3 SUNYAC) and will host Potsdam tomorrow, Oct. 18.

The Cardinals got off to a hot start in the opening set, ripping off seven straight points featuring kills from Estime, Ganz, and Girma. The momentum didn't stop there as Plattsburgh used a quick 5-0 burst, capped off by a Girma service ace to take a commanding 17-5 lead. Late in the set, another run extended Plattsburgh's lead to 22-8 as the Cardinals went on to win the first set 25-12.

The second set was as back-and-forth as it gets, with several ties as Plattsburgh led for most of the set until the Red Dragons used a 5-0 run to take a 19-16 lead. The Cardinals came within two points on multiple occasions, but three straight points to end the set from Oneonta secured a 25-20 set victory for the Red Dragons.

It was another tight battle in the third set after a 3-0 rally, ending with a service ace from Ryan, gave Plattsburgh a 15-13 lead. Oneonta responded with a run of their own and regained a 19-16 lead, but the Cardinals battled back and tied the set at 20. The two teams continued to go point for point until Oneonta ended the set with back-to-back points for the 29-27 set win.

Plattsburgh looked to bounce back in the fourth set, but it was Oneonta who had the momentum, jumping out to a quick 8-3 lead. The Red Dragons lead the entirety of the set, as a late kill from Collyear brought the Cardinals within two, but Oneonta closed out the set 25-21 to secure a 3-1 match victory.