With a record of 17-4 overall and 3-0 in SUNYAC games, the SUNY New Paltz Women’s Volleyball team has, so far, enjoyed a dominant season.
On Sept. 26 and 27, the Hawks played their first games of SUNYAC play this season. The Hawks swept SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Cortland all in three sets.
“We have a good first weekend of SUNYAC play,” said Head Coach Matt Giufre. “We played good defense and showed resiliency when we were down late against Cortland.”
Giufre said that the strong start to the season has not changed his team’s mindset at all when it comes to practicing and playing games.
“Our record doesn’t affect our preparation,” he said. “The team kind of ignores our record but we are proud of it; it doesn’t hamper them.”
However, with all the success the team is enjoying, Giufre said they still have things to work on, including a stronger offense play and consistency within.
In their most recent game, the Hawks fell in three sets to Williams College, but look to get back in the win column this weekend.
The next SUNYAC games the Hawks will play are hosted by The College at Brockport. The Hawks will matchup against Buffalo State on Friday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m., Brockport on Saturday Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. and SUNY Plattsburgh on Oct. 11 at 12:30 p.m.
Giufre says these games, as well as any SUNYAC games, bring the best out in his team.
“We don’t pay much attention to other team’s records going into the games, there’s a different intensity about them,” he said. “It can expose less confident players and teams.”
Fourth-year right side player Alex Bizub said that the strong start to the season has been great for the team.
“I think winning a lot makes us a stronger team,” she said. “It makes other teams work harder against us and we like being challenged.”
The upcoming matchup that the team is looking forward to, Bizub said, is going to serve as a reprise from last year.
“I can’t wait to play Buffalo State,” she said. “They beat us last year in the finals and we are ready for retaliation.”