PITTSFORD, NY – The Hartwick women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches in an Empire 8 crossover beginning Saturday afternoon. First, the Hawks fell to Ithaca, 3-1, and then to host, St. John Fisher, 3-1. With the losses, Hartwick slips to 5-15 overall and 1-5 in the Empire 8. The Bombers lift their season to 16-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play. St John Fisher moves to 8-11 on the year (4-2 E8).

Against Ithaca, Hartwick fell in the first set, 25-16.

For the second set, the Hawks claimed a .222 hitting clip which marked its highest of the match. Ashley Smatko (Fort Edward, NY/South Glens Falls) and Hannah Armstrong (Lansing, NY/Lansing) each registered three kills apiece to help the Hawks to a 26-24 set victory and even the match, 1-1.

The third set remained close until Ithaca rattled off six consecutive points to put the Hawks down 23-16. With the Bombers winning two of the next four points, they took the set, 25-18 and went up in the match.

Ithaca bolted for eight straight points to start the fourth and never looked back resulting in the 25-8 set win for the 3-1 victory.

Jamie Reidy (Elmira, NY/Horseheads) dished out 15 helpers while Ashley Werner (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) added 19 digs. Rosa Maun (Redstone, CO/Roaring Fork) connected for seven kills while Smatko and Armstrong finished with six.

In the battle with the home team, the Hawks saw more competitive matchups, having not dropped a set by more than five points.

In the first, the Hawks fell just short, 26-24.

Hartwick won the second set by the largest margin for either team, 25-16.

The Cardinals would win the third and fourth set by the respective scores of 25-20 and 26-24.

Armstrong credited a double-double this match as she emerged for a match-best 15 kills and 16 digs.

Reidy and Werner also logged match-highs. Reidy received 22 assists while Werner posted 26 digs.

Volleyball returns to the court October 12^th to visit SUNY Poly. The action begins at 7 p.m.