PATCHOGUE, N.Y.- The Hunter College women's volleyball team mounted a spirited comeback after a slow start but ultimately dropped a five-set decision (20-25, 9-25, 25-19, 25-8, 9-15) to St. Joseph's Long Island on the road Thursday night.

After falling behind 2-0, the Hawks (0-3) soared back to even the match with a dominant fourth set, holding the Golden Eagles to a -.261 hitting percentage while registering 10 kills on just two errors in the frame.

Simone McIntyre led the way with 13 kills and 15.5 points, adding a pair of aces and a block assist despite facing heavy pressure at the net. Lily Mattison was a steady presence throughout, contributing eight kills at a .240 clip and serving up four aces to go with two total blocks.

Amina Moummad added eight kills and 13 digs, while setter Madeline Snyder continued her consistent play with 30 assists and a .333 hitting percentage on limited attempts. Snyder also chipped in a block assist and one ace, while Natalie Morrill tallied two aces and 16 digs.

The Hawks out-blocked their opponents 11-2, with 10 block assists and a solo stuff, including contributions from Ana Duran, Michelle Liu, and Mattison. Deanna Vinitski anchored the back row with 11 digs and three service aces, while Morrill and Polanco each played key defensive roles with multiple digs and receptions.

Hunter finished with 46 kills on 150 total attempts for a .087 team hitting percentage and totaled 12 aces in the match. Despite a lopsided second set, the Hawks showed resilience to claw their way back and force a deciding fifth frame, where they were edged 15-9.

The Hawks return to the court in search for their first win on Saturday as they travel to Bard for a tri-match against Utica at 1:00 p.m. followed by a 3:00 p.m. match against the hosting Raptors.