New Paltz, NY - The Vassar College Women's Volleyball team completed a five set comeback victory over SUNY New Paltz on Friday evening as the Brewers earned a 26-24, 24-26, 13-25, 25-20, 17-15 win over the host Hawks with senior
Holland Kaplan's service ace clinching the victory. Vassar's record improves to 4-1 overall on the season while New Paltz drops to 1-5.
First Set
- Vassar rolled out to a 7-1 lead to open the match as junior Eleanor Gegen notched two kills and an ace along with a winner from classmate Erin Lovett.
- New Paltz answered with eight straight points, led by three kills from Genevieve Boyle and two aces from Jordyn Lewis, to take a 9-7 lead.
- The Brewers answered to regain a 12-10 lead behind three winners from Kaplan before expanding the lead to three on an ace from sophomore Amy Melchior.
- The Hawks evened the set at 18 all on a winner from Lexi Stragalas until a solo block from Lovett put the Brewers back in front 21-19.
- NP collected five consecutive points to get to set point at 24-21 behind two aces from Elena Savage and a block from Boyle and Christine Balbona.
- Vassar scored the final five points of the set as first year Gina O'Connell buried two winners and an ace from first year Sophia Ierulli earned the first set 26-24 victory.
Second Set
- New Paltz scored a 6-4 lead in the second set following back-to-back kills from Balbona and Nora Keating.
- VC answered back with consecutive aces from Kaplan that put the Brewers ahead 11-8.
- The lead expanded to 18-14 after two kills from Gegen, a winner each from Lovett and Kaplan and an ace from first year Riley Huang.
- NP got within 21-20 on a Balbona kill and tied the set at 24 all on a winner from Stragalas.
- The Hawks scored the final two points of the set on a block from Balbona and Boyle and a Lewis ace to even the match at one set apiece.
Third Set
- New Paltz pulled ahead 8-3 to begin the third set following two kills from Lola Konopa and a winner from Stragalas.
- Vassar scored five straight to knot the set at eight all on an ace from Ierulli.
- The Hawks expanded its lead to 14-9 on a kill from Boyle and a winner and ace from Balbona.
- After Huang's ace to trim the deficit to 14-11, New Paltz increased the advantage to 18-11 on three consecutive Kim Braun aces.
- NP took the third set win following an ace from Boyle and a block from Stragalas and Konopa.
Fourth Set
- Vassar responded with a 10-2 lead to open the fourth stanza behind two kills from sophomore Elena Feuer, a winner each from Lovett, Gegen and Kaplan and an ace from Huang.
- The Brewers advantage grew to 15-5 until the Hawks battled back to within 16-10 on back-to-back kills from Konopa.
- VC pushed the lead back up to 21-12 on two winners from Feuer and a Huang ace before NP trimmed the lead to 21-16.
- Boyle's kill got the Hawks within three at 22-19 before a kill each from Lovett and senior Maura McAusland pushed the match to a deciding fifth set.
Fifth Set
- New Paltz scored the first four points of the fifth set as Boyle buried two winners and Braun landed an ace.
- Vassar answered with the next five points behind two kills from McAusland and a block from Feuer and senior Francesca Medrano.
- The Hawks went ahead 9-7 on two aces from Lewis and a block from Balbona and Stragalas.
- Four straight points from Vassar, led by a McAusland kill and blocks from Feuer and Kaplan, put the Brewers ahead 11-9.
- NP scored five of the next six points on two aces from Savage, a kill from Stragalas and a Konopa block to get to match point at 14-12.
- Vassar answered with back-to-back kills from Kaplan and Lovett to even the set at 14 all.
- Keating buried a kill to put the Hawks back on match point but the Brewers tallied the final three points of the set, which were two Kaplan kills and a Kaplan ace, to earn the comeback five set victory.
For The Brewers
- Kaplan led the way with 16 kills, 16 digs and three aces while Lovett tallied nine winners, two blocks and four digs.
- McAusland added nine kills and eight digs along with Feuer posting eight kills, four blocks and three digs.
- Gegen recorded six kills and two aces while Medrano completed an all-around night with 39 assists, two aces and 15 digs.
- Senior T Petro lifted 12 digs, Huang registered four aces and 13 digs and Ierulli totaled 12 digs and two aces.
For The Hawks
- Boyle finished with 13 kills, two aces, two blocks and 14 digs while Stragalas notched 11 kills, seven blocks and six digs.
- Konopa collected nine kills, seven blocks and four digs along with Balbona notched eight kills, seven blocks and five digs.
- Keating chipped in six kills and three blocks while Braun totaled 22 assists, five kills and 10 digs.
- Savage registered 14 kills, five aces and five digs while Lewis posted 21 digs and five aces.
Up Next
- Vassar returns to New Paltz tomorrow to take on Springfield at 1:15 p.m. and Colby-Sawyer at 3:30 p.m.
- New Paltz will also take on Colby-Sawyer at 11:00 a.m. followed by Springfield at 5:45 p.m.
