Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team bounced back in a big way, going 2-0 to close out the Cardinal Classic in Memorial Hall on Saturday. The Cardinals opened with a 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13) win over Hartwick before concluding the classic with a 3-0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-22) sweep of Potsdam.

Game 1: Plattsburgh State 3, Hartwick 1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13)
Senior outside hitter Liya Girma (Sachse, Texas/Bishop Lynch) led all players with a game-high 11 kills and 15 digs to record a double-double. Sophomore setter Emily O'Brien (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) orchestrated the Cardinal attack with a career- and game-high 31 assists while adding eight digs and seven kills. In the back row, senior libero KC Burke (Murrieta, Calif./Northfield Mount Hermon [Mass.]) paced Plattsburgh with a game-high 16 digs. At the net, first-year Brooke Anderson (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) led all players with a career-high four blocks.

For the Hawks, Sophia Palladino led the team with 10 kills, while Thylia Keoviengsamay had 27 assists and a team-high 15 digs.

Plattsburgh held advantages in digs, 66-63, service aces, 15-6, and blocks, 6-5.

Hartwick opened the scoring in the first set, but Plattsburgh quickly found its footing as kills from Darby Collyear (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall) and Girma gave the Cardinals a 7-6 advantage. The Hawks soon regained the edge, but Plattsburgh responded with a 7-0 surge featuring two service aces from Collyear to move ahead 23-19. Following a kill from O'Brien that extended the margin to 24-21, the Cardinals finished off the frame, 25-21.

The second set followed a similar script, with the teams tied at 9-9 after a kill from Iris Mulvey (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood). Hartwick then strung together four straight points to move in front 13-9 and later stretched its advantage to 20-13. Plattsburgh gained some momentum late with a 3-0 burst sparked by an Anderson kill, but the deficit proved too much to overcome as the Hawks evened the match with a 25-21 win.

Hartwick again took an early advantage in the third, leading 9-5 before the Cardinals answered with three consecutive points to move in front 11-10. Another 3-0 surge, capped by a Mulvey service ace, extended the margin to 14-11. The Hawks battled back to tie the score at 16-16, but Plattsburgh regained control and finished the frame with three straight points to claim a 25-21 victory.

Plattsburgh took control from the outset of the fourth set, opening a 12-5 advantage with a 6-0 run highlighted by three service aces from Girma. The Cardinals continued to pull away, moving ahead 18-7 as Mulvey recorded three kills during another 6-0 burst. Plattsburgh maintained its momentum down the stretch, cruising to a 25-13 win and a 3-1 match victory.

Game 2: Plattsburgh State 3, Potsdam 0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-22)
The Cardinals carried their momentum into the second match of the day, sweeping Potsdam to finish the final day of the Cardinal Classic with a 2-0 record.

Mulvey finished with a game-high 17 points, highlighted by a career-high nine service aces, and added eight kills. O'Brien continued her strong day at setter, recording a game-high 21 assists to direct the Cardinal offense. Collyear and first-year middle blocker Augustina White (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) each recorded two blocks to lead Plattsburgh at the net.
 
For the Bears, Maggie Paluch led the team with six digs, while Isabella Miller recorded five assists and Ashlee Hagerman added four kills.

Plattsburgh held a 36-28 advantage in digs and dominated the service line with a 19-2 edge in aces. Both teams recorded three blocks.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the opening frame, capped by a Mulvey service ace. Plattsburgh continued to build its cushion as three consecutive points, including two Collyear service aces, made it 11-4. The Cardinals then closed the set with an 8-0 surge, capped by a Collyear kill, to take the opening frame, 25-9.

Potsdam kept the second set close early, holding a 6-5 advantage before four straight points put Plattsburgh ahead 9-6. The Cardinals maintained control from there, with a 5-0 burst capped by a Mulvey kill doubling the advantage to 14-7. Four consecutive service aces from Mulvey later pushed the margin to 21-9, and Plattsburgh went on to claim a 25-15 victory.

Plattsburgh opened the third frame with seven straight points, with sophomore Elena Stavroulakis (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) capping the run with a service ace. Potsdam responded midway through the set, tying the score at 17-17, but the Cardinals regained a 21-18 advantage. The Bears rallied again to level the score at 22-22 before White delivered a kill to help Plattsburgh finish off the 25-22 win and complete the sweep.

With the two victories, Plattsburgh improves to 2-2 overall and will return to action Friday, Sept. 11, against UMass Boston at 4 p.m.