PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team opened its 2026 season tonight in Memorial Hall, falling 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-20) to Clarkson in non-conference action.
Offensively, the Cardinals were led by senior outside hitter
Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas/Bishop Lynch), who tied for a game-high 11 points on nine kills and two service aces while adding 12 digs. Sophomore setter
Emily O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) posted a double-double with 12 assists and 10 digs, while senior
KC Burke (Murrieta, Calif./Northfield Mount Hermon [Mass.]) had a game-high 20 digs to go along with seven assists.
For the Golden Knights, Brianna Hale led the offense with a game-high 28 assists, setting up Conley Burns for a team-high 10 kills. Olivia Baxter added 18 digs, while Chase Chudoba recorded three total blocks.
Defensively, both teams finished with 70 digs, but Clarkson held a 4-1 advantage in blocks. The Golden Knights also recorded five service aces compared to three for the Cardinals.
In the opening set, Plattsburgh jumped out to a 6-3 lead after a Girma kill sparked a 3-0 run. Clarkson later answered with four straight points to take a 16-9 lead, but the Cardinals responded with six consecutive points to pull within 16-15. Clarkson pulled away late before a 6-1 stretch closed out the set, 25-18.
Clarkson led the second set early, building an 11-4 advantage behind a 6-0 run. The Cardinals continued to battle, getting kills from first-year
Brooke Anderson (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury), Girma, senior
Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall), sophomore
Lindsay Pedersen (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) and senior
Iris Mulvey (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood), but the Golden Knights maintained their lead and took the set, 25-15.
The third set featured a back-and-forth battle, with Clarkson opening an 8-3 lead before Plattsburgh rallied to take a 14-13 advantage on a Girma kill. The Golden Knights responded with five straight points to regain the lead at 20-16, and although the Cardinals cut the deficit to three, Clarkson held on for a 25-20 victory to take the 3-0 decision.
Plattsburgh State falls to 0-1 to open the season and returns to action Friday, Sept. 4, hosting Russell Sage at 4 p.m. in the opening match of the Cardinal Classic.
