Box Score PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After dropping the first two sets, the Cardinals came from behind, winning three straight sets to secure a 3-2 (17-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-12, 15-13) match victory over Potsdam in non-conference action on Friday evening.

Junior Iris Mulvey (Middle Island, N.Y. / Longwood) led the way for Plattsburgh with 14.5 points, putting down 13 kills to pair with a service ace, a block assist, and 10 digs, recording a double-double. Junior Darby Collyear (Rockwall, N.Y. / Rockwall) was also significant in the Cardinal attack with 12 kills, while junior Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas / Bishop Lynch) poured in 11 kills to go with 14 digs for a double-double as well. In her collegiate debut, first-year Emily O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y. / Monroe-Woodbury) had a strong outing, tallying 28 assists and defending 15 digs for the first double-double of her career. Sophomore Anabella Almeida (Pine Bush, N.Y. / Pine Bush) contributed a career-high 21 assists, while senior Bridget Ryan (Mattituck, N.Y. / Mattituck) defended 16 digs in the winning effort.

For Potsdam, Ashlee Hagerman led all players with 19 kills, totaling a game-high 20.5 points off 19 kills, an ace, and a block assist. Sophia Layer had a game-high 34 assists, while Rachel Madore had a game-high 19 digs. Hagerman also contributed on the defensive end with 15 digs for a double-double.

The Cardinals hit .161% (56-31-155) compared to the Bears, .124 (43-24-153), but it was the Bears who had the advantage in service aces (7-6) and blocks (8-4). The Cardinals registered 71 digs, while Potsdam had 58, and had 56 assists to the Bears' 40.

Plattsburgh State rises to 1-0 overall with the win and hosts St. Lawrence (11 a.m.) and Russell Sage (1 p.m.) to close out the Cardinal Classic tomorrow, Aug. 30. Potsdam falls to 0-1 overall and is back in action for the final day of the Cardinal Classic, tomorrow, Aug. 30, matching up with Russell Sage (11 a.m.) and SUNY-Delhi (3 p.m.).

Potsdam controlled play early in the first set, jumping out to a 7-1 lead before a kill by Katie Salphine (Le Roy, N.Y. / Le Roy) ended the run. Another run by Potsdam pushed their lead to 15-6 before Mulvey put down a kill, and the Cardinals scored back-to-back points, cutting the lead to 15-8. However, Potsdam didn't lose any momentum, doubling up the Cardinals 20-10. The Cardinals battled back after a kill from Girma started a 3-0 burst, but ultimately fell 25-17.

The second set was a much closer affair as the teams battled back and forth until three straight points from Potsdam gave the Bears a 15-10 lead. A kill from Girma started a 4-0 rally as the Cardinals tied the set at 16 momentarily, before three straight points from the Bears gave them a 19-16 lead. After a service ace from Elena Stavroulakis (Bay Shore, N.Y. / Bay Shore) and a kill from Collyear, the Cardinals trailed 22-20. However, Potsdam scored the next three points for the 25-20 win.

After back-and-forth play saw the teams tied at four, back-to-back points from Potsdam gave the Bears a 6-4 lead. Later in the set, a 4-0 run by Plattsburgh put the Cardinals within one as they trailed 16-15. Back-to-back kills from Mulvey and Girma tied the game at 18. Both teams continued to exchange points until the score was tied at 21, and Plattsburgh won four straight points to take set three, 25-21.
 
After the Bears scored the first point of the fourth set, the Cardinals dominated the rest of the way, taking an early 7-1 lead that featured kills from Girma and Mulvey. The Bears responded, but the momentum stayed with the Cardinals after a kill from Mulvey gave the Cardinals a dominant 21-10 lead. The Cardinals outscored the Bears 4-2 the rest of the way to take a 25-12 fourth set win and force a fifth and final set.

The Cardinals took a 7-3 lead to begin the fifth set after Melina Morillo (Bronx, N.Y. / Bronx Latin) put down a kill. The momentum stayed on the Cardinals' side, but the Bears came within two after a kill from Emily Prest made the score 10-8 Cardinals. The Cardinals countered with back-to-back points and took a 12-8 lead, but the Bears battled back and tied the game at 12. Late in the set, a Salphine kill and a Potsdam error put the Cardinals back ahead 14-12. The Bears responded with a kill to come within one before an error gave the Cardinals a 15-12 win to secure a 3-2 match victory.