Final Score: Hartwick 3, Sage 2
 
Venue: Troy, NY – Kahl Campus Center
 
Records: Hartwick (6-5, 1-0 E8); Sage (3-8, 0-1 E8)
 
Recap: Four kills from Toria Betelak (N. Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) would help Hartwick jump out to a huge 8-0 lead in the fifth and deciding set and the Hawks would go on to take it 15-7 to grab a 3-2 victory over Sage in the Empire 8 opener for both teams Wednesday. The Hawks led by as many as five points in the opening set before dropping five of the last six points as the Gators won 25-23 to take a one set advantage. Hartwick responded taking the second set with ease, 25-13, and it grabbed a 2-1 lead after winning the third set, 25-19. Sage would open up a 15-5 lead in the fourth set and it led by 12 points on three separate occasions before taking it 25-13 to set the stage for a fifth set. Betelak's four kills and Kiera Walsh's (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) two aces helped 'Wick to the big lead. The Gators got two points back but it would be as close as they would get. The Hawks won six of the next eight points for a 14-4 edge. Dell Potts (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane) put the match away with a kill on the final point. Maria Sorriento (Troy, NY/Troy) led all players with 20 kills in the match. She also contributed 15 digs. Betelak ended the night with 12 kills. She also hit .455 in the contest. Potts and Celia Gagnon (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) each had seven kills. Christina Mattocks (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) earned a double-double with 41 assists and 10 digs for the Hawks. Katie Boak (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) recorded team-highs of 16 digs and five service aces. Walsh finished the night with 12 digs and four aces.
 
Notes: The Hawks improved to 27-11 against the Gators all-time. Hartwick has now won four straight matches marking the longest winning streak since the 2012 season.
 
Up Next: Hartwick stays in conference this weekend as it battles host Houghton and St. John Fisher on Saturday.