FREDONIA, N.Y. – The Cortland women’s volleyball team won its 17th State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title and earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Div. III tournament with a 3-1 victory over New Paltz in the league tournament championship match.

The Red Dragons (33-7) won their first league title since capturing five straight crowns from 2003-07. Cortland played in the championship game for 25th time in the 27-year history of the tournament. New Paltz, the 2009 SUNYAC champion, is now 28-11 and will await a possible NCAA at-large berth.

Cortland will compete in the NCAA playoffs for the 22nd time. The NCAA pairings will be announced on Monday.

Sophomore setter Kristen Guercio (Smithtown/Smithtown East) was named tournament MVP, and was joined on the all-tournament team by junior Ashley Coyle (Mt. Hope/Minisink Valley) and sophomore Katie Wick (Cortland/Homer). Guercio finished with 48 assists (12 per set), four kills and nine digs. Coyle led the Red Dragons with 20 kills and 22 digs, while Wick helped the defensive effort with 15 digs.

Junior Sheena Asibey (Brentwood) finished with 16 kills and junior Kaitlyn Cooper (Webster/Webster Schroeder) added 13 kills and two blocks. Sophomore Erin Carrino (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) registered 16 digs, while freshman Krissy Silk (Massapequa Park/Massapequa) and junior Jaclyn Lawrence (Marilla/Iroquois Central) had seven digs each.

Cortland built a comfortable early lead in the first set. New Paltz eventually pulled within one, 20-19, but never seized the lead. The Hawks took the second set by taking control early. After a 1-1 score, New Paltz took the lead and never looked back.

Wick served nine straight points during the momentum-shifting third set. She finished with two service aces in the match. The Red Dragons finished off the Hawks in the fourth set, yet it was the closest score of the day. The Hawks were behind by as many as seven points, but made a furious comeback to bring the score within two, 22-20. Cortland, however, won three of the last four points.

Tournament Web Site