By Monica D’Ippolito
NEW PALTZ — The State University of New York New Paltz bounced back from a poor performance Friday night to win in three over visiting Fredonia State Saturday in the Hawk Center, 25-18, 25-17, 25-21.
The Hawks hit .241 as a team with Jamie Albrecht and Letisha Perez leading the way with 12 and 11 kills apiece. Perez was a difference maker at the net, totaling four blocks while also adding three aces for a team-leading 17 points.
Perez gave her team a comfortable 16-9 lead midway through the first set after a kill. The two teams traded points before Perez helped her team side out with another kill off a set by Elena Savage to push the score to 18-12. She served the next point, which led to a kill by Albrecht who established a seven-point cushion. The Blue Devils got within five but couldn’t climb out of the deficit with Albrecht pushing her team to set point with another hard swing. Jordyn Lewis then closed out the first set victory, acing on the last point to solidify the 25-18 outcome.
The second was tied three times to start before an 8-1 run allowed SUNY New Paltz to hold onto a 15-8 advantage. Savage served through the last four points of the run, totaling an ace and forcing an attacking error to cap the stretch. Perez handed the Hawks their largest lead at 23-15 with an ace before Savage and Lexi Stragalas put the set away with back-to-back kills to end long rallies to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Fredonia held a 16-12 lead in set three, but SUNY New Paltz chipped away and tied the stanza at 17 thanks to four-straight points ignited by Perez. Stragalas allowed the Hawks to side out after smashing a kill off an assist by Savage, handing the ball to Perez who served back-to-back aces to get her team within one. Stragalas then tied the set with another kill off a set by Savage.
Christine Balbona officially gave SUNY New Paltz the lead on a kill at 19-18 and the hosts never trailed from that point on. Savage served consecutive points with an attacking error and a kill by Albrecht pushing the Hawks in front, 21-18. The Blue Devils got within one at 21-22, but SUNY New Paltz sealed the win with three straight points with Lewis serving for ace on back-to-back points to cement the 25-21 victory and straight-set win.
Savage finished with a team-high 28 assists, while Lewis tallied nine digs and five aces.
The Hawks are back in action this weekend, going on the road to face SUNY Cortland and SUNY Morrisville Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 4:30 p.m., respectively.