Cobleskill, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly women's volleyball team dropped a 3–1 decision to SUNY Cobleskill on Tuesday night. The Wildcats claimed the opening set 25–19 before the Fighting Tigers responded by taking the next three sets, 25–15, 25–22 and 25–16.
SET ONE: SUNY Poly 25, SUNY Cobleskill 19
The Wildcats opened the match with a strong offensive effort, battling through an early back-and-forth stretch before Cobleskill used a 5–0 run to take an 11–7 lead. SUNY Poly quickly answered, with Catherine McCourt providing a spark with back-to-back kills and a service ace to help the Wildcats pull even at 11–11. The teams continued to trade points throughout the middle portion of the set, with Kara Stephens, Grace Southwick, Olivia Linart and McCourt contributing offensively. Poly eventually took control late, using kills from Southwick and Ciarra Jager along with a key stretch from McCourt at the service line. The Wildcats closed the opening frame on a 6–0 run, including a service ace from McCourt, to secure a 25–19 victory and take a 1–0 match lead.
SET TWO: SUNY Cobleskill 25, SUNY Poly 15
Cobleskill responded quickly in the second set, jumping out to an early 4–1 advantage before Poly battled back to keep the score close. Julia Holmes recorded a service ace, while Kathleen Smart and Catherine McCourt delivered kills as the Wildcats remained within one point at 6–5. Cobleskill then began to create separation, using a strong serving run to build a 10–7 lead before extending the advantage to 15–11. Poly continued to battle behind kills from Kara Stephens and Ciarra Jager, but the Fighting Tigers used another late run to pull away. Cobleskill scored the final five points of the set to claim a 25–15 victory and even the match at 1–1.
SET THREE: SUNY Cobleskill 25, SUNY Poly 22
The third set began with Cobleskill again establishing an early advantage, as the Fighting Tigers opened with a 6–0 run behind a series of service aces. Poly settled in and answered with six straight points of its own to tie the set at 6–6. The Wildcats remained within striking distance throughout the middle portion of the frame, with Olivia Linart and Catherine McCourt contributing offensively. McCourt then sparked a key stretch with three consecutive kills, helping Poly pull within one at 15–14. The teams continued to exchange points, with Kara Stephens and Mylee Magnanti adding kills as Poly stayed within reach. The Wildcats tied the set at 17–17, but Cobleskill responded with a late run and eventually closed out the frame on three consecutive service aces to earn a 25–22 victory and take a 2–1 match lead.
SET FOUR: SUNY Cobleskill 25, SUNY Poly 16
Cobleskill carried its momentum into the fourth set, taking an early 4–2 lead before putting together a decisive 10–0 run to build a 14–4 advantage. The Wildcats continued to fight, with Kathleen Smart and Ashley Wright providing kills for the Fighting Tigers, while Poly received offensive contributions from Maggie Call, Teagan Hopkins and Julia Holmes. The Wildcats managed to cut into the deficit, pulling within 17–9 before continuing to battle late in the frame. Cobleskill maintained control, however, and closed out the set 25–16 to secure the 3–1 match victory.
UP NEXT
SUNY Poly returns to action on Saturday, September 12, when the Wildcats compete in a tri-match against Potsdam and Western New England University. Poly will face Potsdam at noon before taking on Western New England at 4 p.m.
