ONEONTA, NY – Hartwick's volleyball team won its tenth match of the season Thursday night 3-1 (25-20, 25-14, 23-25, 27-25) over Cobleskill in a non-conference tilt played at Lambros Arena. The contest served as the Hawks' annual "Dig Pink" match and their Senior Night. 'Wick seniors
Katie Ryan (Circleville, NY/Pine Bush),
Christina Vitale (Port Jefferson Station, NY/St. John the Baptist),
Mickey Coons (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall), and
Meg Luce (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs), who were playing in their final home match, were honored prior to the start of the contest.
In the opening set, the lead changed hands twice before the Hawks grabbed a 16-15 edge. They maintained the lead which would grow to four points, 23-19, before a Cobleskill timeout. After the break, the two teams traded points before
Dana Martin's (Chester, NY/Burke Catholic) kill gave 'Wick the set, 25-20.
Hartwick gained the upper hand early in the second set but the Fighting Tigers kept the score close. With the Hawks leading by a 13-11 margin, a Ryan kill ignited a big eight-point rally which put the hosts up ten points, 21-11. Cobleskill would get one point back but 'Wick pushed its opponent to the brink with three more of its own. The Tigers scored two more points but a service error gave the Hawks the set, 25-14.
'Wick was in control in the third set and appeared to be cruising toward a straight-set victory, up 13-8. The Fighting Tigers had other ideas as an 8-1 rally put them up 16-14. The margin grew to as many as six, 23-17, before a 6-0 'Wick spurt evened the score at 23-23. Cobleskill, however, would register the next two points to cut its deficit to two sets to one.
In the fourth set, Hartwick went up by four points at three different times but the Tigers fought back to even the score on each occasion. In total, the score was tied 11 times and the lead changed hands four times in the set. The score was even at 23-23 before a long rally resulted in a Cobleskill point to put the Tigers a point from forcing a fifth set. An
Ashlynn Mohan (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) kill tied the score at 24. The Hawks would drop the next point but they secured the next three to take the set, 27-25, and the match.
Ryan tied for a match-high with nine kills. Mohan finished with eight kills and Martin added six.
Coons registered a career-best 18 digs in the contest. Vitale contributed 17. Luce generated career-highs of six digs, three blocks, and two kills.
Hannah Armstrong (Lansing, NY/Lansing) picked up 20 assists and eight digs.
Quincy Kinzel (Scotia, NY/Guilderland) chipped in with 12 assists.
Cobleskill (11-18) was led by Amber Baker and Kady Porterfield, who each had nine kills. Kim Cordova and Baker each secured 16 digs. Katie Yang and Casey Holbert combined for 31 assists.
With the win, the Hawks improve to 10-18 overall. They remain perfect against the Fighting Tigers with a 6-0 all-time record.
'Wick travels to Cazenovia for a meeting with the Wildcats on Saturday, October 26. Match time is 11 a.m.