PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Despite a strong attack with three players in double digits for kills, the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team suffered a 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 25-23) setback to Fredonia in home State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action on Saturday evening.

Before the start of the match, Plattsburgh State recognized six seniors in Sanaia Estime (West Hempstead, N.Y. / West Hempstead), Kyleigh Ganz (Phoenix, Ariz. / Seton Catholic Prep), Maggie Lyon (Ballston Spa, N.Y. / Ballston Spa), Melina Morillo (Bronx, N.Y. / Bronx Latin), Bridget Ryan (Mattituck, N.Y. / Mattituck), and Katie Salphine (Le Roy, N.Y. / Le Roy).

The Cardinals had three players register double-digit kills as junior outside hitter Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas / Bishop Lynch) led the way with 13, followed by junior outside hitter Iris Mulvey (Middle Island, N.Y. / Longwood) with 12 and Ganz with 10. Sophomore setter Anabella Almeida (Pine Bush, N.Y. / Pine Bush) and first-year setter Emily O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y. / Monroe-Woodbury) set up the Cardinal attack with 23 and 22 assists, respectively. Ryan was a force defensively, defending a career-high and game-high 31 digs, and got support up top from Estime with a career-high and game-high six total blocks.

For the Blue Devils, Kylie O'Brien led the team in kills with 13, Olivia Boswell set up the offense with 23 assists, and Molly Cassidy led the team defensively with 12 digs.

Plattsburgh dominated almost every category, leading the way in digs (76-74), blocks (10-6), and aces (9-8).

Plattsburgh State falls to 8-14 (1-6 SUNYAC) with the loss and has been eliminated from playoff contention. The Cardinals are back in action next week on Friday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. when the team travels to Morrisville for a road conference match. Fredonia moves to 10-12 (5-2 SUNYAC) and next hosts New Paltz on Friday, Oct. 31.

After both teams exchanged runs, the score was knotted at 4-4 until Fredonia scored three straight points to take a 14-13 lead halfway through the set. A kill from Girma gave Plattsburgh a momentary lead, but a 6-0 surge put Fredonia back on top 22-18 as the Blue Devils closed out the set with a 25-19 win.

The Cardinals bounced back in the second set and got on the board early, using a 4-0 rally featuring a kill from Girma and a service ace from Almeida to take an 8-5 lead. Fredonia kept it close and scored back-to-back points twice to take a 15-13 lead before the Cardinals responded with back-to-back points and tied the set at 15. Nearing the end of the set, the Blue Devils had a slight 19-18 lead, but a 6-0 tear from Plattsburgh, capped off by a Mulvey kill, put the Cardinals ahead 24-19. It was another kill from Mulvey that put the finishing touches on the set victory as the Cardinals won the second set 25-21.

The Blue Devils jumped out to an early 9-5 lead until a 4-0 burst, including a service ace from Ryan and a kill from Girma, tied the score at 9. The lead changed hands twice as Plattsburgh led 17-16 after back-and-forth play, but four straight points from the Blue Devils gave Fredonia a 19-17 lead. A kill from Ganz brought the Cardinals within one, but the Blue Devils outscored Plattsburgh 5-2 to end the set and secure a 25-21 set victory.

After even play left the score tied at 16, Fredonia took a momentary 19-16 lead before Plattsburgh countered with a 4-0 surge that ended with an Almeida service ace and took a 20-19 lead. Both teams then exchanged 3-0 runs, with the Cardinals still leading 23-22. However, the Blue Devils scored the next three points to win the fourth and final set 25-23, securing a 3-1 match victory.