New Paltz Women’s Volleyball Collects Fourth-Straight Win

By James O’Neill

After dropping a well-fought first set, the State University of New York at New Paltz women’s volleyball team handled Rowan University for the following three sets, beating the Profs 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-19) in day one of the Hudson Valley Quad-Match.

Moving to 19-4 on the 2018 campaign, the Hawks return to the Hawk center Saturday for a 12 p.m. match against Morrisville State College, followed by a 2:30 p.m. match with Bard College.

Opening the first set with a 9-5 lead courtesy of a junior middle hitter Kerri Neville kill, Rowan University fought back to tie the set at 10. In a set that featured eight ties, the Profs gained full advantage up 18-17, when an attack error by SUNY New Paltz led to a 6-3 run to take a 24-20 lead. Rowan University would win the set, 25-22.

With the second tied at eight, the Hawks gained the lead off a senior outside hitter Taylor Cimillo service ace, trying to expand it throughout the entire set. Up 15-13, a kill by sophomore middle hitter Demi Herasme and one by Cimillo boosted SUNY New Paltz to it’s largest so far at 17-13.

After a service error by the Hawks put the Profs behind by four, SUNY New Paltz went on an 8-1 run, taking the second set, 25-15, to even the match at one.

The set win gave the Hawks the confidence they needed, opening up the third with a 9-3 lead. Although Rowan University fought back to get behind two at 11-9, SUNY New Paltz continued to score profusely, gaining a five point lead off a senior setter Meredith Dignan service ace and a sophomore outside hitter Julie Greenspan kill at 15-10.

The Hawks never looked back, extending their lead to as much as eight to take the set, 25-17.

Bringing momentum back on its side, SUNY New Paltz looked to finish business in the fourth, taking a 12-5 lead off two Cimillo service aces and a Profs attack error. Rowan University never saw the lead again, as the Hawks scored in bunches to decide the match.

A last minute effort by the Profs to break-up a well established lead did not work, as SUNY New Paltz took the set, 25-19, and the match, 3-1.