DELHI, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team concluded non-conference play last weekend and now turns its attention to State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action. The Cardinals opened conference play against conference newcomer Delhi on Friday night at Floyd L. Maines Arena, sweeping the Broncos 3-0 (25-15, 25-13, 25-12) to earn their first win over Delhi in two matchups in program history.
The Cardinals displayed a well-rounded offense, as senior outside hitters
Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas/Bishop Lynch) and
Iris Mulvey (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood), along with first-year middle blocker
Brooke Anderson (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury), each recorded seven kills. Mulvey also added four service aces to finish with a game-high 11 points, while contributing eight digs on the defensive end. Sophomore setter
Emily O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) set up the attack with a game-high 21 assists and added a team-high two blocks. Senior libero
KC Burke (Murrieta, Calif./Northfield Mount Hermon [Mass.]) paced Plattsburgh defensively with a game-high 12 digs, followed by Girma with nine.
For the Broncos, Taryn Mondragon set up the offense with 14 assists, while Nevelle Taylor led the attack with a game-high eight kills. Peyton Bruce led Delhi defensively with 11 digs.
Plattsburgh dominated in service aces, 12-1, and held the edge in digs, 42-38, and blocks, 4-2. The Cardinals also hit .220 for the match.
The Cardinals got off to a strong start in the opening set, as back-to-back kills from Anderson and Girma helped them take a 7-3 lead before extending the advantage to 10-5. A quick 4-0 burst featuring an
Anabella Almeida (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) service ace pushed Plattsburgh ahead 14-7. Another scoring surge, capped by a kill from
Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall), extended the lead to 20-9 as the Cardinals closed out the set with a 25-15 win.
After an early response from Delhi in the second set, both teams were tied at 6-6 before Plattsburgh used a 5-0 stretch, highlighted by two kills from
Augustina White (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy), to take an 11-6 lead. Delhi added points sporadically throughout, but a 7-0 spurt from the Cardinals extended their advantage to 22-11. Plattsburgh went on to secure the second set, 25-13.
Plattsburgh's offense continued to roll in the third and final set, building an 11-5 lead behind a four-point scoring burst sparked by a Girma kill. Delhi cut into the deficit, but the Cardinals responded with a strong 6-0 rally capped by an Anderson kill to make it 20-10. Anderson delivered again late, recording the final kill to close out a 25-12 win and secure the 3-0 match victory.
With the win, Plattsburgh State improves to 10-9 overall and 1-0 in SUNYAC play. The Cardinals will be back in action tomorrow, Oct. 10, at Cobleskill for a 1 p.m. match.
