ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Hartwick Women's Volleyball team was flawless in their home tri-match, taking down Utica and Alfred State with three-set sweeps on Saturday at Lambros Arena.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Utica 0 Hartwick 3

• Location: Oneonta, N.Y. | Lambros Arena

• Records: Utica (7-11, 1-2 Empire 8) Hartwick (10-8, 3-0 Empire 8)

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs Utica)

The Hartwick Women's Volleyball team made the most of their return to Lambros Arena, sweeping Utica University in three sets to secure their first conference home win of the season.

The Hawks came out firing in the opening set, with Malia Dake (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) sparking the charge from the service line by delivering three straight aces. Hartwick's front row capitalized on defensive miscues from the Pioneers, closing the first set with a 25-17 win.

Utica found their footing early in the second frame, but the Hawks quickly regained control behind the attacking duo of Shelby Swartz (Candor, N.Y.) and Isabella Gracias (Oneonta, N.Y.), who combined for multiple kills. Lucille Walker (Ithaca, N.Y.) and Samantha Garback (Tully, N.Y.) dominated at the net, shutting down the Pioneer offense with blocks while chipping in kills of their own to give Hartwick a 2-0 advantage.

The momentum carried into the third as Sophia Palladino (Owego, N.Y.) paced the offense with powerful kills and timely aces. Setter Braelyn Hornick (Candor, N.Y.) orchestrated the balanced Hawk attack with precision, spreading opportunities across Palladino, Swartz, Gracias, and Walker.

The complete team effort lifted Hartwick to the straight-set victory, capping a strong home showing as the Hawks continue to build momentum in Empire 8 play.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Alfred State 0 Hartwick 3

• Location: Oneonta, N.Y. | Lambros Arena

• Records: Alfred State (8-6, 0-0 AMCC) Hartwick (11-8, 3-0 Empire 8)

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs Alfred State)

The Hartwick Women's Volleyball team capped off a dominant return home with a second straight sweep, defeating Alfred State after downing Utica earlier in the day. The Hawks' flawless tri-match performance extended their momentum in Empire 8 play.

Facing Alfred State, who entered fresh off a four-set win over Utica, Hartwick immediately applied pressure. Strong serving and relentless attacking forced Pioneer errors as the Hawks built a double-digit cushion in the first set. Though Alfred State clawed back, the Blue and White held firm to claim a 25-19 win.

The second set turned into a back-and-forth battle, featuring 12 ties. Timely kills from Sophia Palladino (Owego, N.Y.) and Lucille Walker (Ithaca, N.Y.) kept Hartwick in stride, while three late Alfred State errors sealed the set in the Hawks' favor.

The Pioneers struck early in the third with a five-point swing, but Hartwick responded with poise. Setter Braelyn Hornick (Candor, N.Y.) sparked the comeback with a kill of her own before feeding Shelby Swartz (Candor, N.Y.) for several decisive strikes. The combination of Samantha Garback (Tully, N.Y.) and Isabella Gracias (Oneonta, N.Y.) dominated at the net with key blocks, and the Hawks steadily erased the deficit.

After evening the score at 15, Gracias delivered two kills to swing momentum. Hornick and Swartz added crucial points down the stretch, and Swartz sealed the sweep with a final kill before two Pioneer errors closed the match.

The victory marked Hartwick's second sweep of the day, showcasing depth, balance, and resilience in a commanding tri-match performance.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will make head to Ithaca for a 6PM matchup against the #19 nationally ranked Bombers on Tuesday, October 7th.

About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.