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NEW YORK, NY - On November 2nd, the second-seeded Hunter Hawks faced the top-seed Baruch Bearcats in the CUNYAC/Con Edison Championship Final.  For the second consecutive year, the Bearcats outlasted the Hawks to win in what will go down as one of the best matches in the CUNYAC Championship history 3-2 (25-18, 25-23, 11-25, 19-25, 15-17).

It was a match that went to five close sets of back-and-fourth play that saw both teams playing at the top of their game. The two teams had met in the last two CUNYAC Championships, each having won one. With the victory Baruch received CUNYAC's Automatic Qualification into the NCAA Division III Championship. 

The first set went to the Hawks, as the Bearcats had numerous errors to give Hunter a 25-18 victory.  Baruch hit a negative .033 percentage on the court while sophomore Taylor Kordich banged out 4 kills in the first set giving the Hawks confidence and momentum going into the second set.

Going point for point in the second set, Baruch pulled away to have a 18-14 lead over the Hawks.  Down 23-19, senior setter Mia Alexis De Claro came to serve, and the Hawks won 6 points in a row to win the second 25-23 in dramatic fashion.  De Claro had 4 assists and a serving ace during that 6 point run. 

Being down 2 sets to 0, the Bearcats started to find their grove in the third set. Down 1-14, the Hawks would try to battle back but ultimately fell 11-25 in the third set as Baruch looked to turn the game in their favor.

After an intense and hard fought 4th set on both sides, Baruch had 16 kills and 5 serving aces alone in the 4th to give them a 25-19 victory, tying the score up 2-2. 

For the second time in CUNYAC Women's Volleyball Championship history, a 5th and final set would determine the champions. In 2002, Hunter defeated Lehman 3-2 to take the CUNYAC title.  After leading 15-14, the Bearcats had a late surge of momentum they needed to win their 6th CUNYAC/Con Edison Championship.

De Claro tallied 30 assists and 13 digs for the Hawks.  Seniors Kim Hirten and Karolina Krauze recorded 17 and 18 digs, respectively in their final CUNYAC Championship.  Sophomore Paulina Jobcyzk led the Hawks in kills with 12, while Kordich had 9 kills and 9 digs.


All-Tournament Team
Jessica Wu, Baruch - MVP
Michelle Stommes, Baruch
Melinda Santiago, Baruch
Paulina Jobcyzk, Hunter
Taylor Kordich, Hunter
Dalliana Toussaint, CCNY
Jo-Marie Aquino, Lehman


The Hawks finish their season with a 20-12 overall record.  Stay tuned to hunterathletics.com to see who they play in the first round of the ECAC Tournament.

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