SCHENECTADY, NY – Junior setter Stephanie Bova (Central Square, NY) produced 31 assists with eight digs and SUNY New Paltz hit .354 in a three game win over Hunter in a 2008 NCAA Division III Union Regional match Thursday at the Viniar Athletic Center. The Hawks of New Paltz improved to 30-9 in winning their first ever match in an NCAA volleyball tournament, while the Hawks from Hunter finish the season 27-6 after making their seventh NCAA appearance and third straight.
With the victory, New Paltz will play at 8:30 p.m. Friday against the winner of the Rivier/Union match. New Paltz joins another SUNYAC (State University of New York) team in tomorrow’s regional semifinals, Fredonia, which will face Stevens in the other matchup Friday.
Freshman outside hitter Melinda DiGiovanna (West Hemstead, NY) had 11 kills and six digs and senior outside hitter Samantha Prudente (Huntington Station, NY) had seven digs with her 10 kills. Junior middle hitter Brittany Coyle (Middletown, NY) had a match best seven blocks. Sophomore libero Rachel Santa Olalia (Ventura, CA) had 13 digs and Hunter got 21 assists from senior setter/libero Melissa Hernandez (Ridgewood, NY).
Senior opposite Amanda Kamm (Dix Hills, NY) had 15 kills and 14 assists with seven digs to lead the Hunter Hawks. She hit a match high .355 while senior outside hitter Olga Petrenko (Bronx, NY) had nine kills and six digs with three blocks for Hunter.
In game one, the teams were locked up at 5-5 but New Paltz went on a 10-1 run featuring two DiGiovanna kills and four attack errors by the opponent. Hunter pulled to within five at 18-13 but never got closer in losing the first game 25-15. Hunter’s last lead of the match came in game two (3-2), and the Hunter Hawks were within two as late as 20-18. But a 4-0 run put New Paltz on the brink of the second game win. Hunter scored the next three points but an attack error provided New Paltz with the 25-21 win. Game three featured five ties, the last coming at 10-10. But an 11-4 streak by New Paltz made it 21-14 in an eventual 25-18 triumph.
