ONEONTA, N.Y. - The Oneonta women's volleyball team featured a balanced offense to defeat New Paltz in SUNYAC play on Wednesday evening in the Dewar Arena. The Red Dragons win their third straight match and move to 14-9 overall and 4-3 in the SUNYAC, while the Hawks drop to 12-10 and 4-3 in conference play.
Oneonta took the first set 25-20 before falling 25-21 in the second. The Red Dragons then won the following sets 25-23 and 25-17.
Oneonta took a 10-8 lead in the first, following two kills from freshman Lily Pugliese (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) and an ace by freshman Layla Pertchik (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs). Sophomore Shea Landversicht (Greenville, NY/Greenville) recorded a kill to make it 15-12, and another Pugliese kill started a 4-0 Oneonta run to push the lead to six. Kills from Pugliese and junior Emma Morretta (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) made it 24-18, and a Hawks' error gave the Red Dragons the opening set.
A 5-0 Oneonta run gave the Red Dragons an 11-8 lead, but New Paltz answered with five straight points to take a two-point lead. Kim Braun tallied an ace to make it 18-14, and a 4-0 span with two kills by Nora Keating made it 22-15. Oneonta pulled within three following a Landversicht kill, but an attack error tied sets 1-1.
The Red Dragons claimed a close third set after trailing 14-12. Two Pugliese kills and a Landeversicht ace gave Oneonta a 16-15 lead. Morretta knocked in back-to-back kills to go ahead 20-18. New Paltz went on a 4-0 run to tie at 23-23 before a kill from senior Anna Moller (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach Senior) and a block by Pertchik and Landversicht put the Red Dragons up 2-1.
After New Paltz took a 5-3 lead in the fourth, Oneonta rattled off a 5-0 run with a kill from senior Colleen McCabe (Rockville Centre, NY/Oceanside) and a Moller ace. Another 5-0 span pushed the Red Dragons up 13-8. Pertchik snuck in a kill to make it 14-10, and the Oneonta lead eventually grew to seven points. Oneonta took the final two points on kills from McCabe and Pertchik.
Pugliese finished with a career-high 12 kills, while Morretta and Landversicht each had eight. Landversicht added two aces and four blocks, while Pertchik made 27 assists. Moller recorded 27 digs with one ace.
Reagan Dyba tallied ten kills, while Maria Weigand had nine. Braun finished with two aces and 31 assists. Jordyn Lewis had 23 digs.
Oneonta next travels to Alfred for a tri-match on Saturday, October 25 at 1 p.m.