PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Hartwick volleyball team pulled out a thrilling, five-game victory over Plattsburgh in their season opener on Friday evening, but dropped another close battle to Colby-Sawyer in their second match of the day. The Hawks, who are playing in the Plattsburgh-hosted Cardinal Classic, split a pair of matches on the first day of the season for the second year in a row.

Match One vs. Plattsburgh (3-2; 15-25, 25-15, 14-25, 25-23, 15-13)

• Plattsburgh started off the match comfortably, winning the first game 25-15, but Hartwick returned the favor, winning by the same score in the second set.
• The Cardinals got back on track in set three, pushing the Hawks to the brink with a 25-14 win.
• Hartwick went down 18-15 in the fourth game, but came back to take the lead before the score knotted up at 22-apiece. Plattsburgh took a 23-22 lead, but 'Wick took the next three points via a Plattsburgh attack error, Colette Maloney (Williston Park, NY/Mineola) kill, and Celia Gagnon (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) service ace.
• The deciding fifth set played evenly, as expected. The teams were tied at seven each before two Maloney kills and a Kayley Ericson (Franklin, CT/Norwich Free Academy) ace gave Hartwick a 10-7 lead. Plattsburgh came back to take a 12-11 lead, but 2018 All-Conference selection Maria Sorriento (Troy, NY/Troy) took control after that, scoring the next four 'Wick points via kills to give the Hawks a 15-13 victory in the final set.
• Maloney had a double-double in her first career match, registering 12 kills and 13 digs.
• Sorriento led all players with 17 kills, also adding seven digs. 
• Katie Boak (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) had a game-high 20 digs and tied Gagnon for the team high of four aces.
• Ericson and Kiera Walsh (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) split the setting duties, with 20 and 19 assists, respectively.

Match Two vs. Colby-Sawyer (1-3; 22-25, 25-15, 24-26, 25-27)

• As would become custom in the match, the Chargers won a close first set, 25-22.
• Hartwick bounced back to tie it in the second set with a 25-15 victory.
• Colby-Sawyer then won another close set, needing a 26th point to put away the Hawks.
• 'Wick made a valiant comeback bid in the fourth and final set. Down 18-13, they eventually tied it up at 18-all, thanks in part to some rock-solid serving from Boak, but could not finish the job to force a decisive fifth set.
• Sorriento and Myla Dobson (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) each led the team with nine kills. Sorriento also had four digs, and Dobson added four block assists and a service ace.
• Ericson did the bulk of the setting in match two, dishing out 22 assists.
• Boak had a solid all-around day, with a team-high 22 digs and game-high six service aces. Maloney was not far behind with 17 digs and three aces, as well as five kills.
• Dell Potts (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane) and Toria Betelak (North Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) were strong on the net with five blocks apiece (one solo for Betelak).

The Hawks return to action tomorrow for the second and final day of the Cardinal Classic, taking on Empire 8 rival Sage at 11 a.m. and Plymouth State at 1 p.m.

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