MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – Following a five-set battle against Oswego State last night, the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team looked to respond in another State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) road match. The Cardinals traded points with Morrisville in the opening set and mounted a late push in the third, but the Mustangs held off both efforts to take a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 26-24) decision.
Senior outside hitter
Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas/Bishop Lynch) led the attack with 10 kills, set up by a 17-assist performance from sophomore setter
Emily O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury). Defensively, senior opposite hitter
Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall) and first-year outside hitter/middle blocker
Jahnia Venson (Troy, N.Y./Lansingburgh) both recorded two blocks, helping the Cardinals hold a 5-2 edge in the category. Senior libero
KC Burke (Murrieta, Calif./Northfield Mount Hermon [Mass.]) led the Cardinals with 10 digs to help Plattsburgh finish with 38 digs.
For the Mustangs, Isabelle Eskierka led all players with 19 kills, while Keely Shearer finished with 17 assists. Kylie Hutchinson added a game-high 11 digs to help Morrisville hold a 44-38 advantage in the category. Both teams finished with four service aces.
The Cardinals trailed early in the opening set until three straight kills from
Augustina White (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy), Girma and Venson put Plattsburgh ahead 8-6. Both teams continued to trade points, tying the score at 12-12 before the Mustangs took a 15-12 lead. Plattsburgh responded with a 5-0 run to move ahead 18-16 and extended its advantage to 20-19. Morrisville stayed within reach, however, and edged out the Cardinals for a 25-22 win.
Plattsburgh found itself trailing 13-8 midway through the second set before Girma smashed down a kill to make it 13-9. The Cardinals put together several scoring stretches to chip away at the deficit, pulling within 19-16, but Morrisville maintained its advantage and closed out the set, 25-19.
Morrisville maintained its lead throughout the third set, but Plattsburgh continued to close the gap after falling behind 16-11. The Cardinals picked up the pace, rattling off three straight points capped by a Girma service ace to pull within 16-14. A Venson kill started another rally, which
Brooke Anderson (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) finished with a kill to tie the score at 19-19. Plattsburgh kept the pressure on, tying the score again at 23-23 and 24-24, but the Mustangs recorded the next two points to take the final set, 26-24, and secure the 3-0 match victory.
With the loss, Plattsburgh State falls to 11-14 overall and 2-5 in conference play. The Cardinals will be back in action Wednesday, Nov. 4, traveling to Potsdam for their regular-season road finale.
