HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Women's volleyball secured a 3-1 conference win over Houghton University with final set scores of 25-18, 22-25, 25-16, 27-25.
Isabella Gracias (Oneonta, N.Y.) led the Hawks offensively with 13 kills and a .353 hitting percentage, while Lucile Walker (Ithaca, N.Y.) followed with 12 kills and an impressive .526 hitting percentages.
Maya Lesinski (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) added seven kills, while
Makella O'Neill (Webster, N.Y.) contributed five.
Thylia Keoviengsamay (Rome, N.Y.) directed the offense with 29 assists.
Defensively,
Malia Dake (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) led the Hawks with 14 digs, followed closely by Keoviengsamay with 13.
Samantha Garback (Tully, N.Y.) recorded two solo blocks and three block assists, while Walker contributed one solo block and one block assist.
With the victory, Hartwick improves to 11-10 overall and 6-2 in Empire 8 play, while Houghton falls to 10-13 overall and 5-3 in conference.
Hartwick jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the opening set before Houghton battled back to take an 8-7 lead. The two sides continued to exchange points, finding themselves tied at 17 apiece late in the set. A kill from Gracias sparked a six-point run for the Hawks, highlighted by two additional kills from Gracias and a service ace from O'Neill. Hartwick pulled ahead 23-17 before closing out the opening set 25-18, hitting .303 as a team.
The Hawks carried their momentum into the second set, building an early 11-6 advantage behind a five-point scoring run. The Highlanders responded with a run of their own, eventually evening the score at 14-14 before taking a 17-15 lead. Hartwick continued to battle, tying the set at 19-19, but Houghton pulled away late to claim the second set 25-22 and even the match at one set apiece.
Houghton opened the third set with a 2-0 lead before the Hawks found their rhythm offensively. With the score tied at 7-7, Hartwick rattled off six consecutive points behind the serving of O'Neill, who recorded back-to-back service aces during the run. Lesinski added three kills to help push the Hawks ahead 13-7. Hartwick continued to extend its advantage, using strong play at the net and timely offense to build a 21-11 lead. The Hawks maintained control down the stretch, taking the third set 25-16 to regain the match advantage.
The fourth set saw Hartwick establish an early 13-8 lead, highlighted by a block from Garback and Gracias. The Highlanders chipped away at the deficit before evening the score at 17-17. Both teams traded points late in the set before Houghton pulled ahead 24-22, putting the Hawks on the brink of a fifth set. Hartwick responded under pressure, fighting off two set points to tie the score at 24-24 behind a block from Walker. After Houghton regained a one-point advantage, the Hawks once again evened the score at 25-25. O'Neill delivered a crucial kill to give Hartwick match point before Garback sealed the 27-25 victory with a kill of her own.
