CANTON, NY – The Hartwick volleyball team split their two matches on the second and final day of the Canton Classic on Saturday afternoon. They defeated host SUNY Canton, 3-1 (21-25, 26-24, 25-13, 26-24) in the first match and were swept by Morrisville (17-25, 12-25, 18-25) in the second. Hartwick is now 11-8 for the year.
Match One vs. SUNY Canton (3-1; 21-25, 26-24, 25-13, 26-24)
- The hosts got off to a hot start in the first set, scoring seven in a row after Hartwick won the first point, forcing a Hawk timeout. They would then extend that lead all the way out to ten at 15-5. 'Wick got the next five points via three kills, an ace, and an opponent attack error, but the Roos countered with five straight points of their own to restore the lead to 10. Hartwick attempted to make their move down 22-11 (helped out by quite a few Canton attack errors) , but could only make it to 21 before the Roos finished the set.
- The home side again looked in control to start set two, jumping out to a 13-6 advantage after a Tatum Lafrance service ace. The lead remained seven at 17-10, but Hartwick quickly rattled off five straight points to narrow the gap to two. Colette Maloney (Williston Park, NY/Mineola) had two service aces on the run, and Dell Potts (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane) and Kaitlyn Ludder (West Sand Lake, NY/Averill Park) had kills. The Hawks eventually tied it at 20, but then lost three straight points. Facing three set points down 24-21, they stayed focused, scoring the next five points to win the set, 26-24. Potts had three of those points via kills, including the last two.
- As had become custom, Canton again jumped out to a quick start in set three, leading 6-0 and holding that lead to 9-3. Hartwick completely dominated from there, scoring 22 of the final 26 points to win the set, 25-13.
- The Roos once again led early on in the fourth set, at 10-5, 14-7, and 16-8. They extended that out to 20-11 before succumbing to an 8-0 run by Hartwick, bringing the score to 20-19. Katie Boak (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) had four aces throughout that stretch. After a Canton point, Maloney started and ended a 5-0 stretch to give the Hawks three match points, up 24-21. Canton stayed with it, however, scoring the next three points to tie the set at 24-apiece. Hartwick quickly put an end to Roo comeback thoughts, though, scoring the next two and ending on a Ludder kill.
- Potts led the Hawks with nine kills and a team-high three blocks, followed by Maloney's eight kills to go with 13 digs, two aces, and a block.
- Kayley Ericson (Franklin, CT/Norwich Free Academy) tied Potts at three blocks and also had a double-double, registering 32 assists and 10 digs.
- Three other Hartwick players had 10 or more digs, with Boak at 15 to go with six aces, and Ludder and Sarah Petz (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) at 11 digs each.
- This was Hartwick's first ever win over Canton, as they had lost in four previous tries.
Match Two vs. Morrisville (0-3; 17-25, 12-25, 18-25)
- The Mustangs easily handled Hartwick in the neutral-site match, winning all three sets rather comfortably.
- 'Wick led set one, 12-11, and were down just one at 16-15 when Morrisville took eight of nine points to lead 24-16. They would finish the set two points later.
- Morrisville took control earlier in set two, scoring six in a row while leading 8-6 to take a commanding 14-6 lead. The lead held steady, more-or-less, until 18-11, when the Mustangs won seven of eight points to take a 13-point, set-two win.
- The Hawks battled closer in third set, down just a couple points for the bulk of the game. At 17-15, however, the Mustangs started to lengthen their lead, winning the next three points and six of eight overall to bring the score to 23-17. After committing a service error, Hartwick's own service error and an Amelia Baratier ace ended the match.
- Maria Sorriento (Troy, NY/Troy) led the Hawks with seven kills. Boak had a team-high 12 digs, and Ericson led all Hawks at 22 assists.
Hartwick takes on Empire 8 foe Utica next, hosting the Pioneers for their final home match of the season on Friday, October 11 at 7 p.m.
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