Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Geneseo, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz women's volleyball team hot streak ended today after six consecutive wins. The Hawks defeated SUNY Cortland in a 5-set battle 25-20, 14-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-11. Following the victory SUNY New Paltz faced off against the defending champion Brockport Golden Eagles in straight sets 25-17, 25-12, 25-16.
 
Junior outside hitter, Taylor Cimillo, powered the Hawks in the opening match. Cimillo posted her second straight double-double of the weekend with 18 kills and 15 digs on a .269 hitting percentage. Maddie Zwickl also recorded a double-double for SUNY New Paltz as she recorded 39 assists with 16 digs.
 
After trading the first four sets, the match came down the deciding fifth set to 15 points. The Hawks got off to a slow start getting down 9-3 and just as it was looking like the five-game win streak was coming to a close, the comeback began.
 
A service error from the Red Dragons allowed Meredith Dignan to step up to the line for the Hawks down 9-4 where she led the Hawks to an eight-point run and took a three point lead 12-9. After a kill from Cimillo to put SUNY New Paltz two points away from their sixth straight win Demi Herasme put down back-to-back kills clinching the match.

"The Cortland comeback was huge for us," said head coach Matt Giufre. "We showed a lot of poise and played each point like it's own mini game. We were able to get ourselves into a good rotation and Meredith is one of our top servers and she did a great job serving hard and locating spots so our defense could turn their attacks into points."

Giufre also noted that his senior leader on defense, Veronica Matedero, made two to three incredible digs during their fifth-set rally to keep the Hawks alive while Cimillo played great on both the offensive and defensive end to help carry the Hawks at the end of the match.
 
Following the comeback win, the Hawks had another tough task ahead of them in the defending SUNYAC champions. The Golden Eagles were 5-0 in SUNYAC play heading into the final match of the weekend.
 
SUNY New Paltz was hoping to continue the momentum from their win over Cortland, but the Golden Eagles were too much to handle.
 
The Brockport defense was able to hold the Hawks to only 23 kills with 22 errors over the three sets. Emma Hines was able to record five kills with a .125 hitting percentage while Zwickl notched 12 assists and Cimillo posted 11 digs.

"Unfortunately after going five sets and only having 30 minutes before the next match started we were just physically and emotionally spent and other than the first 10 points against Brockport we just couldn't get anything going," said Giufre. "I am pleased to pick up two more important SUNYAC wins this weekend and while we still have a lot of work to do the next two weeks before the last pool play, if we continue to grow and get better like have our best volleyball is still in front of us."
 
The Hawks are 12-8 overall and 4-2 in SUNYAC play and the team gets back on the court for senior night Friday, Oct. 13 against Bard College at 6:00 p.m.