PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Despite a career day from junior outside hitter Iris Mulvey (Middle Island, N.Y. / Longwood), the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team dropped a 3-2 (22-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 15-8) decision in a five-set back-and-forth affair against Buffalo State in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on Friday night. Mulvey finished the night with 19.5 points after recording a career-high and game-high 17 kills to pair with 12 digs for a double-double, as well as adding three block assists and a service ace.

Juniors Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas / Bishop Lynch) and Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall) also contributed to the Cardinal attack with 14 and 12 kills, while Girma chipped in 12 digs for a double-double. First-year setter Emily O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y. / Monroe-Woodbury) set up the offense with 19 assists and also contributed 16 digs on the defensive side for a double-double. On the defensive end, senior libero Bridget Ryan (Mattituck, N.Y. / Mattituck) collected a game-high 26 digs and a career-high 12 assists for a double-double, while senior middle blocker Sanaia Estime (West Hempstead, N.Y. / West Hempstead) had a career-high four total blocks.

For the Bengals, Ella Wittman and Karlie Shaffer led the team offensively as Wittman registered 16 kills and Shaffer recorded a game-high 21 assists. The defense was led by Delaney McCarthy up top with a game-high six total blocks, and Shaffer defended 19 digs.

In what was a stunning back-and-forth affair, overall, the Cardinals had the advantage in digs 90-88, but it was the Bengals who controlled service aces (14-5) and blocks (10-7).

Plattsburgh State drops to 8-13 (1-5 SUNYAC) and next hosts Fredonia at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Oct. 25, for senior day and will celebrate six seniors before the start of the match. Buffalo State moves to 10-13 (3-3 SUNYAC) and is back in action tomorrow, Oct. 25, at Potsdam.

The first set saw both teams make runs as back-to-back 3-0 surges from Plattsburgh featuring kills from Kyleigh Ganz (Phoenix, Ariz. / Seton Catholic Prep), Mulvey, Estime, and Girma made the score 11-7 Cardinals. The Bengals kept it close and used back-to-back kills to tie the set at 18, but a 4-0 rally that saw three points from Mulvey put the Cardinals back on top 23-19 as Plattsburgh went on to win the opening set 25-22.

After the Bengals held an early 11-7 lead, the Cardinals scored three straight points and came within one point, making the score 11-10. However, the Bengals' offense didn't slow down and pushed their lead to 18-12 before eventually taking the second set 25-17.

The Cardinals opened the set with a 6-5 lead but trailed the rest of the way after a Buffalo State run gave the Bengals all the momentum. Late in the set, a 4-0 burst that saw kills from Salphine, Mulvey, and Estime brought the Cardinals within one while a Collyear kill tied the set at 22. Still trailing, Plattsburgh flipped the momentum, finishing the set with three straight points capped off by a Mulvey kill to take a 25-23 set win.

The fourth set saw even play with multiple ties and lead changes as the Cardinals had a slight 17-15 lead over the Bengals midway through the set. The Bengals rallied off three points in a row and took a momentary 19-18 lead, but the Cardinals countered with four points of their own and took a 22-19 lead. Unfortunately, the Cardinals' offense slowed down as the Bengals outscored the Cardinals 6-1 to end the set and secure a 25-23 win.

The Bengals carried that momentum into the fifth and final set and opened the set with an 8-3 lead. The Cardinals battled back and came within three after Mulvey put down a kill, but a 4-0 Bengals run put the set out of reach as Buffalo State took the final set 15-8 for a 3-2 match victory.