ONEONTA, NY – Visiting SUNY Polytechnic Institute jumped out to a 2-0 lead and rallied in the fourth set to defeat Hartwick by a count of 3-1 on Tuesday at Lambros Arena. Scores were 21-25, 25-27, 25-19, 23-25. The Hawks fall to 2-8 overall while the Wildcats improve to 5-2.
           
SUNY Poly secured a 25-21 win in the opening set to gain the early advantage. In the second set, two points or less separated the two teams until a five-point Wildcat rally handed them a 19-15 edge. Later, SUNY Poly led 23-20 but a Hartwick four-point rally put the Hawks one point from the set, 24-23. Following a Wildcats' timeout, the visitors grabbed the next two points before a Rosa Maun (Redstone, CO/Roaring Fork) kill tied it again at 25-25. SUNY Poly, however, capitalized on two Hartwick miscues to take the set, 27-25, to earn a 2-0 advantage.
           
In the third set, the Hawks took an 8-7 lead and never relinquished it. They led by as many as nine points, 17-9, and kills from Hannah Armstrong (Lansing, NY/Lansing) and Kayla Baril (Seekonk, MA/Seekonk) pushed 'Wick to a 24-17 advantage. A SUNY attacking error gave the Hawks the set, 25-19.
           
In the fourth set, Hartwick opened up an early lead, 8-4. A five-point string put the Wildcats in front, 13-11, but 'Wick came back with eight straight points for a 19-13 lead. Kills from Rachel Jones (West Charlton, NY/Galway), Armstrong, and Rachel Griffing (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) and aces from Baril and Jones keyed the run.
           
The Hawks found themselves two points from forcing a five set as they held a 23-20 lead after a Wildcat service ace. But a Megan Will kill ignited a five-point run for SUNY and they won the set, 25-23, to claim the 3-1 victory.

Baril and Quincy Kinzel (Scotia, NY/Guilderland) each registered double-doubles in the match for the Hawks. Baril recorded 13 digs and 10 kills. Kinzel dished out 31 assists and added 11 digs.

Armstrong had a team-high 11 kills to go along with five digs. Maun and Taylor Vonasek (Willington, CT/E.O. Smith) each contributed six kills.

Alyssa Zeitler (Chardon, OH/Berkshire) had the team-high in digs with 17. Ashley Werner (Saugeeties, NY/Saugerties) added 13. The Hawks earned 13 blocks on the match, which is a season-high. Jones had three solo efforts and five assisted blocks.

The Hawks next play at the Oswego invitational this weekend. The Hawks oppose SUNY Canton and The Sage Colleges on Friday, September 18.