PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Powered by a double-double from junior Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas / Bishop Lynch), the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team swept Potsdam 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-22) in their State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opener. Girma finished the night with 18 points, putting down 13 kills, defending 10 digs, and recording four service aces.

First-year Emily O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y. / Monroe-Woodbury) set up the Cardinal attack with a team-high 19 assists, and right behind her was sophomore Anabella Almeida (Pine Bush, N.Y. / Pine Bush) with 14 assists. Sophomore Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall) recorded a .409 hitting percentage on 10 kills to contribute to Plattsburgh's offense. The Cardinals' defense was anchored by junior Iris Mulvey (Middle Island, N.Y. / Longwood), who had eight digs to go with seven kills as she contributed on both ends. Up top, Sanaia Estime (West Hempstead, N.Y. / West Hempstead) and Katie Salphine (Le Roy, N.Y. / Le Roy) stuffed two attacks, recording two block assists each.

For the Bears, Ashlee Hagerman led the attack with 12 kills, set up by Sophia Layer with a game-high 21 assists, while Rachel Madore led all players in digs with 133.

Overall, Plattsburgh hit .265 for the match and led in every category, holding a 48-37 advantage in digs, a 15-3 advantage in aces, and a 4-3 edge in blocks.

Plattsburgh State earns its fourth win in a row, moving to 7-8 overall (1-0 SUNYAC) and is back in action at 6 p.m. next Friday, Oct. 10, when the team hosts Oswego State. Potsdam falls to 7-6 overall (0-1 SUNYAC) with the loss and is back in action Friday, Oct. 3, at Clarkson.

The Cardinals jumped out to an early 9-4 lead featuring two points from Girma during that scoring span. Later in the set, the Cardinals used a quick 3-0 burst with kills from Estime and Collyear and extended their lead to 20-12. Three straight points from Plattsburgh made the score 23-13, putting the set out of reach as Almeida ended the first set with a service ace for a 25-14 set win.

After the Bears opened up the second set with a 7-5 lead, the Cardinals countered with a 7-0 tear led by three points from Girma and made the score 12-7 Cardinals. The Bears looked to get back in the match, trimming the lead to two, but a 5-0 surge that saw three service aces from Almeida put the Cardinals ahead 18-11. Plattsburgh stayed in control and closed out the second set with three straight kills as Girma started the run and Collyear closed it with back-to-back kills for a 25-16 set win.

The third set was a game of runs as Collyear put down back-to-back kills, followed by back-to-back points for Plattsburgh again as Salphine added a kill and made the score 13-8. With the score 15-13 Cardinals, Plattsburgh went on a 4-0 rally capped off by a service ace from Bridget Ryan (Mattituck, N.Y. / Mattituck) that made the score 19-13. The Cardinals' lead was threatened as the Bears came within one, but a kill from Mulvey and a service ace from Almeida were all Plattsburgh needed as they went on to win the third and final set 25-22.