ONEONTA, N.Y.- Volleyball closed out regular season conference play with a win against Keuka on Senior Day, with final scores of 25-19, 25-19, and 25-16.
Lucille Walker (Ithaca, N.Y.) led the Hawks offensively with a match-high 13 kills on an impressive .429 hitting percentage, while
Isabella Gracias (Oneonta, N.Y.) followed with eight kills and a .231 hitting percentage.
Maya Lesinski (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) contributed five kills, while
Samantha Garback (Tully, N.Y.),
Thylia Keoviengsamay (Rome, N.Y.), and
Makella O'Neill (Webster, N.Y.) each added three. Keoviengsamay directed the offense with a match-high 30 assists, while
Olivia Pirkl (Cazenovia, N.Y.) led the Hawks from the service line with four aces.
Defensively,
Malia Dake led Hartwick with a match-high 18 digs, followed by Keoviengsamay and Lesinski with seven apiece. Pirkl added six digs, while Garback recorded five block assists and one solo block. Gracias also contributed five block assists, while Walker added one solo block and two block assists. The Hawks finished with nine team blocks.
With the victory, Hartwick improves to 13-11 overall and 8-3 in Empire 8 conference play.
The Hawks established an early advantage in the opening set, jumping out to a 4-1 lead behind back-to-back service aces from Pirkl. Hartwick continued to build momentum, extending its lead to 11-7 before Keuka narrowed the deficit to two. The Hawks responded with a six-point stretch behind the serving of O'Neill, highlighted by two service aces and three kills from Gracias, to take a commanding 17-9 advantage. Keuka attempted to close the gap late, but Hartwick maintained control to secure the opening set, 25-19.
Hartwick carried its momentum into the second set, breaking away from an early 2-2 tie with a pair of points before building a 9-3 advantage behind the serving of
Sophia Palladino. The Wolves battled back to cut the deficit to 12-11, but the Hawks responded with three consecutive points to regain control. Walker continued to lead the offensive charge, contributing key kills throughout the frame. Keuka narrowed the gap to 21-18 late in the set, but kills from Lesinski and Walker helped Hartwick close out the 25-19 victory.
The Hawks came out strong in the third set, taking an early 7-3 advantage before extending their lead to 13-6 behind kills from Walker, Gracias, and Lesinski. Hartwick continued to control the pace, building an 18-10 lead as its defensive presence at the net forced multiple Keuka errors. The Wolves attempted to chip away at the deficit, but the Hawks remained steady down the stretch. Walker delivered a kill to bring Hartwick to match point before
Adisyn Bobish (Middletown, N.Y.) sealed the 25-16 victory with a service ace, completing the Senior Day sweep.
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