ONEONTA, NY – In a series long dominated by their rivals across West Street, the Hartwick volleyball team turned the tables on Wednesday night. The Hawks cruised to a four-set win over Oneonta, with set scores of 25-14, 25-27, 25-14, and 25-18. The win bumps the Hawks up to 3-1, while the Red Dragons are now 1-3.
The first set remained close until midway through, when at 11-10 the Hawks scored four straight to take a 15-10 lead. They went on a dominant run to nearly close it out at 17-13, scoring seven straight before a Colette Maloney (Williston Park, NY/Mineola) attack error. She immediately redeemed herself, however, smashing a Kayley Ericson (Franklin, CT/Norwich Free Academy) pass for the set on the next point.
The Red Dragons turned the table in the second set, eking out a 27-25 win. Neither team led by two after the Hawks went up 6-3, and the visitors found themselves on set point at 24-23. 'Wick flipped the script with consecutive kills by Staecia Silofau (Kapolei, HI/Maryknoll) and Braelyn Hornick (Candor, NY/Candor), but the Red Dragons won the next three points and the set.
It seemed as if the second set may have righted Oneonta's ship, as they jumped out to a 9-4 lead in set three. It was not to be, though as with the score at 12-9 the Hawks scored seven consecutive points to grab a 16-12 advantage. After a one-point respite for the Red Dragons, the Hawks went back at it again and scored nine of the next 10 for the third set win. The final point came on an emphatic Silofau kill, assisted by Ericson.
There would be no fourth set letdown. 'Wick twice had five-point runs to aid them in taking a 16-9 lead, and Oneonta would not get closer than five after that. The match's final point came off the hands of Dell Potts (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane), who blocked an Isabella Fabrizio effort to clinch the victory.
Maloney put up a career best in digs at 26 (leading all players), and had the match high in kills with 13 as well. Silofau was the only other Hawk with double-digit kills at 11. Kailee Muscarello (Sayville, NY/Sayville) contributed with 15 digs, and Ericson led all with 31 assists. Hartwick threw something of a block party tonight, as four Hawks had four or more in that category (solo and assist). Potts led with four assists and three solo, Silofau had four assists and two solo, Toria Betelak (North Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) had four assists and one solo, and Maloney had four block assists.
'Wick plays again on Sunday, when they host a tri-match with Cazenovia and Alfred State. They will take on Cazenovia at 11 a.m. and Alfred State at 4 p.m.
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