POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 26, 2016) – The Vassar College women's volleyball team travels to New Paltz, NY for non-conference play against the Hawks of New Paltz on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in what should be a big regional contest.

Game Details
Opponents: New Paltz (16-10, 7-2 SUNYAC)
Links: (New Paltz Home Page) (Schedule) (Roster) (Statistics)
Site: New Paltz, NY
Facility: Hawk Center
Date: October 26, 2016
Time: 7 p.m.
Game Coverage: (Live Stats)

Last Time Out: The Brewers went 1-1 this past Saturday in Liberty League competition, defeating Clarkson University 3-2 and falling to Skidmore College 2-3. The victory over Clarkson was a nail-biter at 14-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21 and 18-16. The Thoroughbred contest was also incredibly close, with Vassar falling just short with a 25-16, 25-23, 13-25, 19-25 and 13-15 loss. The Brewers clinched the regular season Liberty League title with the win over the Golden Knights, their first conference title since 2009.

A Look At The Brewers (18-9, 9-3 Liberty League):

• Vassar has posted a 4-2 record against teams in the Liberty League Tournament, sweeping Clarkson while splitting the season series with both Union and RIT.  The Brewers will begin their hunt for a championship against RIT next Friday.
• Vassar is poised for its best season since 2009 when they finished 24-9 and fell just short of a Liberty League championship, falling to Clarkson in the final.
• The Brewers have really stepped it up in third sets this season, winning 20 out of 27 and outscoring opponents 637 – 524.
• Saturday's loss to Skidmore marks the first match in which Vassar lost a third set after winning the first two.
• The Brewers have been exceptionally efficient on offense this year, posting a Liberty League leading hitting percentage of .219, 22 points higher than second place RIT.
• Sophomore Devan Gallagher has her sights set on First Team All-Liberty League Honors after grabbing hardware for second-team honors and Rookie of the Year last year.
• Gallagher and freshman Jane McLeod have both eclipsed the 300-kill mark, with 339 and 321 respectively.  McLeod has grabbed Liberty League Rookie of the Week honors four times this year.
• Sophomore Annie MacMillan continues to anchor the Brewer offense, leading the Liberty League in assists/set with 9.96 and holding down second in service aces with 49.
• Frontline trio Alex Sams, Gallagher, and Gabby Miller currently sit in fifth, sixth, and seventh in Liberty League ranks respectively for total blocks.
• Senior libero Sierra Tobin has already more than doubled her previous career high in digs, scooping 336 for 3.46 per set this season.  That per-set rate is good for fifth in the Liberty League.

 
A Look At The Hawks (16-10, 7-2 SUNYAC):

• After a shaky 3-6 start, the Hawks have turned it on to win 13 of their last 17 matches.
• New Paltz has jumped on their adversaries early this year, outscoring opponents 619 – 552 in first sets.
• The Hawks have converted consistently on offence, sitting at second in the SUNYAC in kills/set with 12.41.
• The back line has kept the ball alive to facilitate the offensive power, averaging 18.2 digs/set to lead the SUNYAC.
• Building off her All-American honorable mention last year, senior Morgan Roessler currently leads the SUNYAC in kills/set with 3.78 and holds the third spot in hitting percentage at .303.
• Taking third in assists in the SUNYAC last year, junior Maddie Zwickl leads the conference this year with 10.79 per set.
• Freshman Meghan Keyes has burst onto the scene this year, notching 34 service aces so far to lead the team.  Zwickl is a close second with 31.
• Seniors Roessler and Brittany Tyack have been dynamic at the net, combining for 46 solo blocks and leading New Paltz to the conference lead in that category
• Taking on the starting libero roll this year, Junior Veronica Matedero leads the team in digs and comes in at third in the SUNYAC with 4.32 digs/set.
• Senior Anna Paulik has been the iron woman for the Hawks this year.  She has played every set so far this season and has posted 274 kills, good for second on the team.

 
Against New Paltz All-Time: Vassar is 12-21 against New Paltz all time, last taking down the Hawks in 2008.

Up Next:  This Saturday the squad will take on Ramapo College in its last regular season match in Kenyon Hall at 2 p.m. while honoring the three seniors for Senior Day.