MORRISVILLE, N.Y. - After giving up one set, the Hawks rallied for a decisive 3-1 victory over the SUNY Morrisville Mustangs on the road.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: SUNY Morrisville 1 Hartwick 3

• Location: Morrisville, N.Y. | STUAC Gymnasium

• Records: SUNY Morrisville (8-6, 0-0 SUNYAC) Hartwick (7-8, 0-0 Empire 8) 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sophia Palladino (Owego, N.Y.) was all over the court, leading the defense with 13 digs and ranking second in kills with 24 kills. Shelby Swartz (Candor, N.Y.) led with 27 kills over 4 sets.

• Morrisville edged the Hawks with a 42-35 advantage in kills, though the Hawks were more consistent, only totaling 29 total errors compared to the Mustangs' 57.

• Braelyn Hornick (Candor, N.Y.) was also integral to the offensive drive, making up 27 of the 34 assists for Hartwick.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hawks faced a tough opponent in SUNY Morrisville, as the Mustangs started off strong to secure the first two points. Hartwick would get on the board to tie the first set at 3-3 after several service errors from their opponents, but it would be Isabella Gracias (Oneonta, N.Y.) to bring the Hawks to their first lead with a kill assisted by Hornick. From there, the two teams would be neck and neck until the Mustangs began to pull away with a 5-point lead. Consecutive attacking errors from Morrisville gave the Hawks an opportunity to fight back, as Palladino delivered four consecutive serves to trip up the Morrisville defense and snagged a service ace in the process. However, Morrisville would just edge the Hawks out to secure the first set 25-23.

The second set was equally as tense, though the Hawks' offense seemed to find a steadier rhythm, as they managed to keep a short lead over the Mustangs. In response, the Mustangs' defense began to crumble as consecutive attacking errors and a smart block from sophomore Lucille Walker (Ithaca, N.Y.) alongside Hornick would give the Hawks a 4-point lead. Any other attempts to rally against the Hawks would be stomped out, as several errors by the Mustangs would ensure a victory in the second set for 'Wick.

Refusing to let up, the Hawks soared in the third as they exploited even more errors while Palladino led the charge to bury two aces and five kills. By the fourth, the Royal Blue and White only grew in momentum while the Mustangs continued to make costly mistakes. On the serve, first-year Thylia Keoviengsamay (Rome, N.Y.) was ruthless, rattling the Morrisville defense while Swartz followed up with back-to-back kills. A service error for the Mustangs was the final blow, with the Hawks snagging the fourth set 25-17 and taking the match 3-1.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will open conference play against the Russell Sage College Gators on Wednesday, October 1st, with the first serve slated for 6PM.

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.