PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plymouth State University women's volleyball team kicked off the 2024 campaign with decisive victories over Plattsburgh State University (3-0) and SUNY Potsdam (3-1) at the Cardinal Classic on Friday evening.
The Panthers made quick work of tournament host Plattsburgh State in the opener, rolling to a 25-15, 25-13, 25-19 win. Graduate student
Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) was dynamic, pounding five kills on just six attempts while chipping in three blocks.
Plymouth State won the first two sets against SUNY Potsdam (25-15, 25-7), before the Bears rallied in the third set for a 25-16 decision. The Panthers quickly squashed any thoughts of a comeback, though, blowing past the competition for a 25-8 win in set four to close out the victory. Ryan led the way once again, dropping 10 kills on 16 swings without an error.
Plymouth State starts the season at 2-0, while both Plattsburgh State and SUNY Potsdam finish the day with 0-1 records.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Plattsburgh State 0
- Plymouth State 3, SUNY Potsdam 1
- Plymouth State (2-0)
- Plattsburgh State (0-1)
- SUNY Potsdam (0-1)
How it Happened (Plattsburgh State):
- Senior Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.) had an early kill and two aces as the Panthers raced out to an 8-1 lead. The Cardinals would pull to within 13-10 midway through the opening set, but a service error and Stogner kill kept Plattsburgh State at arm's length as the Panthers took the opening set, 25-15.
- The hosts nursed a 6-5 advantage early in set two before lengthy service runs from freshman Danielle Emerson (Biddeford, Maine) and senior Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) gave the Panthers an 18-8 lead. Marucci served three aces during her six-point run and PSU coasted to a 25-13 decision.
- Plattsburgh State led for much of the third set. Senior Morgan Drinkwater (Steep Falls, Maine) ripped back-to-back kills and junior Veronika Castro Rodriguez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) served the Panthers even to 15-15. The Cardinals went back in front, 17-15, but Plymouth State answered and Emerson's ace forced a Plattsburgh State timeout with the Panthers leading 19-17. PSU maintained the lead the rest of the way, wrapping up the sweep with a 25-19 win.
By the Numbers (Plattsburgh State):
- Ryan posted four of her five kills in the first set and finished with an .833 attack percentage (5-0-6).
- Six Panthers registered three kills apiece.
- Senior Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) and Emerson combined for 16 assists, while Stogner recorded four aces and four digs.
- Marucci led the defense with nine digs.
- Plymouth State had 12 aces in the match.
- The Panthers lead the all-time series 5-1.
How it Happened (SUNY Potsdam):
- The score remained close through the early stages of the opening set until a Potsdam error, a kill from graduate student Aynslee King (Anacortes, Wash.) and Stogner's ace helped the Panthers open up a 16-9 lead. The Bears would cut the deficit to four, 16-12, but PSU answered with back-to-back kills before cruising to the 25-15 win.
- Ryan recorded a kill and block on consecutive points and senior Imalay Rodriguez Martinez (Juncos, Puerto Rico) followed with an 11-point service run to build an 18-4 lead and put set two out of reach early. A Potsdam error wrapped up a tidy 25-7 win for the Panthers in set two.
- The Bears refused to go quietly, though, responding in set three by taking an early lead and slowly adding to it. Potsdam went ahead, 20-11, forcing a PSU timeout, but the Panthers were unable to rally as the Bears held on for a 25-16 win.
- Plymouth State erased any doubt early in set four as Stogner served the Panthers to a 7-0 lead. Plymouth State maintained a comfortable advantage the rest of the way, with senior Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) putting the exclamation point on a 25-8 win with a match-ending kill.
By the Numbers (SUNY Potsdam):
- Ryan again led the charge, this time finishing with 10 kills (.625 attack pct.) in just three sets.
- Sanderson added eight kills and three blocks, while King chipped in six kills and five blocks.
- McDonough posted 16 assists and two aces, while Emerson added 13 assists and four digs.
- Marucci paced the defense with a match-high 21 digs.
- Plymouth State hit .233 for the match, including .560 in set two (14-0-25), while limiting the Bears to .008 for the day.
- It was just the second meeting between the two programs, with Potsdam holding off a Panthers' rally for a 3-2 win in 2017.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head to St. Michael's College next weekend (Sept. 7) for a pair of matches against NCAA Division II squads. PSU squares off against the host Purple Knights at noon, then battles Assumption at 2:00 p.m.
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