CORTLAND, N.Y.— Buffalo State dropped a straight-set match to New Paltz to open SUNYAC play this evening at Cortland.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: New Paltz def. Buffalo State, 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-9)
LOCATION: Whitney T. Corey Gymnasium - Cortland, N.Y.
RECORDS: New Paltz (12-3, 1-0 SUNYAC), Buffalo State (3-11, 0-1 SUNYAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Buffalo State started strong in the first set, battling out to a 12-8 lead behind eight attack and service errors by the Hawks. New Paltz responded by winning 11 of the next 13 points to take 19-14 lead.
• Five more New Paltz errors cut the lead back to 21-19, until the Hawks survived back-to-back kills from Bryanna Fisher (Brooklyn/Midwood) and Brooke Latour (Lakewood/Southwestern) to claim the set 25-22.
• The Bengals regrouped after starting the second set in a 4-0 hole to cut the lead to 15-14 at the midway point of the second set. New Paltz finished with a 10-2 run to win the second frame, 25-16.
• The Hawks finished the match with a 14-2 run late in the third set to earn the straight-sets win.
• Eimile O'Brien (Marietta/Marcellus) and Latour finished with five and four kills respectively.
• Brittney Valentine (Marietta/Marcellus) led the Bengals with 11 digs.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Taylor Cimillo led the Hawks with 13 kills and six digs.
• Kerri Neville chipped in 12 kills and a .526 attack percentage, while Meredith Dignan added 35 assists.

 
UP NEXT                 
Buffalo State will continue the opening weekend of SUNYAC play at Cortland tomorrow with matches against "Battle by the Lake" rival Fredonia and Plattsburgh at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively.