CORTLAND, N.Y. - The Hartwick Women's Volleyball team split their tri-match against two talented squads, defeating U of R in the first game but falling to Bowdoin in the finale on Saturday afternoon at SUNY Cortland.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Rochester 2 Hartwick 3

• Location: Cortland, N.Y. | Whitney T. Corey '43 Gym

• Records: Rochester (0-4, 0-0 UAA) Hartwick (3-3, 0-0 Empire 8) 

BY THE NUMBERS (vs Rochester)

• The Hawks picked up their first win in program history over the Yellowjackets, evening the series at one win each.

• Shelby Swartz (Candor, N.Y.) and Lucille Walker (Ithaca, N.Y.) fueled the offense, combining for 23 kills as Swartz led with 12.

• Ellie Kalbach (Spring City, Pa.) stuffed the stat sheet in the win, leading the game with 24 assists and second on her team with three blocks and ten digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs Rochester)

After a tough matchup with Cortland on Friday night, the Hawks looked to rebound in their first match of the day against the Rochester Yellowjackets—and they did just that, grinding out a five-set victory.

Hartwick came out firing in the opening set, sparked by an early kill from Swartz, who set the tone for a strong individual performance. Mackenzie Cahan (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) delivered a major boost with a kill and back-to-back service aces, fueling a five-point swing. Combined with Rochester miscues, the Hawks built an eight-point lead and cruised to a dominant 25-13 win in the first frame.

The Yellowjackets responded in the second, capitalizing on Hartwick errors to even the match with a 25-11 set. The third set turned into a battle, featuring eight lead changes as both teams fought for control. Deadlocked at 20-20, Hartwick executed in the clutch, closing on a strong run to take the set and regain the lead.

Refusing to go quietly, Rochester delivered their best hitting performance of the match in the fourth set, forcing a decisive fifth. The final frame lived up to the intensity, with neither team leading by more than three points. Tied at 13-13—the seventh tie of the set—Sophia Palladino (Owego, N.Y.) slammed down a critical kill before a Yellowjacket attack error sealed the 3-2 win for the Hawks.

BY THE NUMBERS (vs Bowdoin)

• The Hawks matched up with NESCAC powerhouse Bowdoin College for the first time in program history.

• First Year Thylia Keoviengsamay (Rome, N.Y.) posted a career high in aces with three in her young career.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs Bowdoin)

After an emotional five-set victory over Rochester earlier in the day, Hartwick returned to the court to wrap up their tri-match against the Bowdoin Polar Bears. Despite a strong effort, the Hawks fell in straight sets.

The opening frame was tightly contested, with Hartwick battling to keep pace before late miscues allowed Bowdoin to pull away for a 25-19 win. The Polar Bears carried that momentum into the second set, catching fire and rattling off seven straight points to seize control and go up 2-0 in the match.

Hartwick responded with their best offensive output in the third, led by Walker and Isabella Gracias (Oneonta, N.Y.), who paced the attack. However, another Bowdoin scoring run swung the momentum back to the Polar Bears, who closed out the match in three sets.

UP NEXT FOR THE HAWKS

The Hawks will head to Russell Sage for a tri-match against Williams College and SUNY Oneonta on Friday, September 12 at 5 &7 PM.

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.