HUNTINGDON, PA — After suffering its first loss of the season Friday night in five sets against tournament host Juniata Friday, the State University of New York New Paltz bounced back with a pair of victories Saturday over Hobart College and Widener University to close out the Kevin Pratte Foundation Invitational.
 
The Hawks improved to 3-1 overall following a five-set victory over the Statesmen (26-24, 22-25, 22-25, 25-23, 22-20) and four-set win over the Pride (24-19, 25-17, 23-25, 25-18).
 
SUNY New Paltz started the afternoon against United Volleyball Conference rival Hobart with the match counting toward overall record only and not conference play. The two programs opened the match tight, needing extra points to decide the 1-0 lead. Michael Spiegel initially gave the Hawks set point, registering a kill off a set from Daniel Shanley, but a service error tied the stanza at 24-all. Artair Kayser lifted SUNY New Paltz to 25-24 following a kill with John Giotis serving the winning point, which was stamped off the swing of Nikko Tenedorio to solidify the 26-24 first set victory. Matt Marusza picked up assists on back-to-back plays.
 
The Statesman stormed back to win two sets in a row at 25-22, but the Hawks regrouped with the game on the line in the fourth. They trailed for most of the set until a match-deciding 5-0 run flipped momentum. Hobart gave SUNY New Paltz life with a service error, allowing serving specialist Matt Kudlinski to come in and serve through the next four points. Matt Teplansky and Geoff Ndoria registered consecutive kills to tie the score at 21-all. Ndoria then got up for a solo block to give his team its first lead since the opening points of the stanza with Teplansky smashing a free ball to cap the stretch and push the score 23-21.  
After the Statesmen tied the set once more at 23-all, Teplansky allowed his team to side out with a kill. He served the next point and helped his team to the win forcing an attacking error, which extended the match to a fifth set.
 
Despite needing to get to 15 by two to earn the victory, the two teams needed to play until 22 to decide the game.

The Statesmen grabbed match point at 14-13, 15-14, 16-15 and 17-16, but SUNY New Paltz refused to relent. A service error and then a hitting error on a serve in by Kayser gave the Hawks their first chance at match point at 18-17 but a kill tied the match once again. Teplansky and Peter Brutschin each tallied kills, but both were answered with kills of their own for Hobart. It wasn't until a serving error at 21-20 that allowed Kudlinski to sub in one last time and be the difference maker. The junior served in hard for the game-winning ace and finalized an exciting 22-20 stanza and the five-set victory for his side.
 
Tenedorio led the way offensively with 15 kills, there assists, two aces, three blocks and 10 digs for a team-high 19 points. Teplansky followed as he registered a season-high 12 kills, hitting .308 with five digs and 12 points. Kayser tallied a career-high seven kills, while adding two aces and a dig for 10 points. Shanley recorded a team-high 35 assists and 12 digs.
 
Following a grueling and hard-fought opening match, SUNY New Paltz immediately got back on the floor to take on the Pride and stormed to a 2-0 lead. The third was tied at 21 before a kill and a block pushed Widener out in front. It held set point two points later following a kill and the Hawks couldn't rally, as the Pride extended the match to a fourth following another kill.  
 
SUNY New Paltz was in control for most of the fourth. Teplansky helped his team side out following a kill off a set from Shanley. Kayser then served the last three points to the victory, forcing an attacking error and then a free ball which Teplansky struck for a kill to get the Hawks to match point. Brutschin then solidified the victory, going up for a big solo block to cement the 25-18 win.
 
Tenedorio once again was the catalyst offensively, recording a game-high 14 kills on 26 attempts, while adding three digs. Teplansky followed with 11 kills on 18 attempts, finishing with a productive hitting average of .556. Ndoria totaled eight kills with one assist, a solo block and five digs. Shanley totaled a game-high 36 assists with an ace, two kills, a solo block and seven digs.
 
Both Tenedorio and Shanley were named to the All-Tournament Team with five others from the participating teams of Juniata, Widnener and Hobart.
 
SUNY New Paltz returns to the court Wednesday, holding its home opener against No. 5 nationally ranked Stevens in the Hawk Center at 7 p.m.