WILKES-BARRE, Pa.- The Hunter College women's volleyball team traveled to Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon for a nonconference tri-match hosted by Wilkes University, facing Catholic University in the opening match before taking on the host Colonels in the nightcap.
Game 1: Hunter 1, Catholic 3
The Hawks (7-8) opened the afternoon against Catholic University (6-14), falling in four sets, 25-22, 25-21, 17-25 and 25-13.
The opening set was tightly contested, featuring 12 ties and three lead changes. Hunter battled throughout the frame but struggled to find its offensive rhythm, recording eight kills before narrowly dropping the set, 25-22.
The Hawks responded with a more efficient attack in the second, hitting .259 with eight kills and just one error. The frame featured 15 ties and six lead changes as Hunter continued to keep pace, but Catholic pulled away late to secure a 25-21 victory and take a 2-0 advantage.
Hunter found its stride in the third, putting together its strongest offensive performance of the match. The Purple and Gold tallied 12 kills with just four errors for a .308 hitting percentage while holding Catholic to a .032 mark. The Hawks controlled the frame from start to finish, cruising to a 25-17 victory to extend the match.
Despite the momentum shift, Hunter was unable to complete the comeback in the fourth, falling 25-13 to close out the opening contest.
Michelle Liu and Marina Goryuk led the Hawks with nine kills apiece, with Goryuk hitting .250. Melissa Alfaro added seven kills and three solo blocks, while Kassidy Cruz Nuesi contributed four kills without an error on nine attempts for a .444 hitting percentage. Cruz Nuesi also added four total blocks, including two solo.
Sofia Marolla directed the offense with 32 assists, six digs and a team-high three service aces. Maya Cosmo anchored the defensive effort with 13 digs, while Liu added seven.
Hunter finished the match with 34 kills, 33 assists, 43 digs and eight service aces.
Game 2: Hunter 3, Wilkes 3
Hunter returned to the court later in the afternoon to face host Wilkes University (13-8), falling in straight sets, 25-17, 25-14 and 25-16.
The Hawks battled early in the opening frame but struggled to establish consistency offensively. Hunter recorded eight kills in the set before Wilkes pulled away for a 25-17 victory.
Hunter looked to respond in the second, improving its offensive production with 10 kills. However, eight attack errors limited the Hawks' momentum as the hosts secured a 25-14 win to take a commanding 2-0 advantage.
The Purple and Gold showed improvement in the third, hitting a match-best .108 with nine kills and five errors. Despite the stronger offensive showing, Hunter was unable to extend the match, dropping the final set, 25-16.
Alfaro led the Hawks offensively with eight kills on 14 attempts, hitting an efficient .429. Goryuk followed with six kills, while Liu and Varvara Kudinova added five apiece. Cruz Nuesi contributed three kills and two solo blocks.
Marolla dished out 23 assists while adding nine digs and two service aces. Cosmo once again led the defensive effort with a match-high 16 digs, while Marris Cheng chipped in eight digs and Liu added seven.
Hunter finished the second match with 27 kills, 25 assists, 47 digs and four service aces.
Hunter returns to the court on Oct. 15 for a 7 p.m. match at Saint Elizabeth University.
