SCHENECTADY, NY - Hartwick's volleyball team lost its final two matches of the Union College Invitational on Saturday. The Hawks lost their first match to Skidmore, 3-1 (14-25, 27-25, 22-25, 11-25), and fell to nationally 21st ranked Cortland, 3-0 (12-25, 21-25, 15-25).
Despite the losses, head coach Lou Lansing still was pleased with the effort of the Hawks, especially after the second match against the Red Dragons.
"This was what we needed going into conference weekend," said Lansing. "We needed a tough match against a solid team and that's what we got. We'll have to play to this level and beyond to compete in conference."
The Hawks begin Empire 8 play next Saturday at Elmira against St. John Fisher in the first of two conference crossovers.
Today against Skidmore, the Hawks and Thoroughbreds split the opening two sets. Skidmore took the first, 25-14, but Hartwick returned the favor in the second, 27-25. The Hawks led for much of the second set before the Thoroughbreds battled back to tie the score at 24. 'Wick closed it out, however, winning three of the final four points.
After trailing for much of the third set, Hartwick pulled even at 20-20. The Thoroughbreds would emerge with the set, though, and won the fourth set with ease.
Katie Ryan (Circleville, NY/Pine Bush) recorded 10 kills to pace the Hawks in the match. Courtney Desmond (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) and Lauren Mausert (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) registered eight and seven kills respectively. Shannon McGee (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) picked up 26 assists and 10 digs in the match. Briana Eckert (Rochester, NY/Greece Arcadia) recorded a team-best 12 digs and Mausert added 10.
Against Cortland, Desmond registered four blocks to give her 356 for her career. She now sits just six shy of sole possession of second place on the Hartwick all-time charts. At the conclusion of the day, she was named to the all-tournament team. She finished the weekend with team-highs of 21 kills, 15 blocks, and she added 14 digs and seven aces.
McGee and Eckert each contributed six digs against the Red Dragons.
After Fisher on Saturday, the Hawks play Utica, a team they have beaten twice already this season. On Sunday, Hartwick closes the weekend against Stevens and Alfred.
