NEW PALTZ, NY – The Alfred University women's volleyball team dropped both matches on Saturday morning during the final day of the SUNY New Paltz Hawks Invitational.
 
The Saxons (3-5, 0-0 Empire 8) first fell to New Paltz in three sets and followed with another three-set loss to Hamilton College.
 
Match One:
Alfred University – 0 | SUNY New Paltz – 3
AU Set Scores: (13-25, 17-25, 19-25)
 
After dropping the first and second sets, AU had a breath of energy in the third as they exchanged blows with New Paltz and had it at a 10-10 set after an ace from Alex Taylor (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Los Osos). The Hawks gained the lead back after a Saxon attack error and followed with two aces of their own to make it 13-10 in favor of the hosts. Two errors from New Paltz got AU back within one of tying the set, but the Hawks kept the deficit in their favor with multiple runs to close out the set, 25-19 and the match sweep.
 
Match Two:
Alfred University – 0 | Hamilton College – 3
AU Set Scores: (19-25, 23-25, 19-25)
 
The set scores proved to be closer than the morning match but AU was still only able to pass 20 points in a set during the second round. The Saxons had gained the lead eight times during the set and even held a 22-16 lead after scoring six, unanswered points when the set was tied at 16. That run was led by kills from Lainey Arneson (Yorktown, VA/Tabb) and Amber Smith (Penfield, NY/Webster Schroeder) and two aces from Darian Ortiz (Santa Fe, NM/St. Michael's).
 
Hamilton responded to the Saxons' 6-0 run with a set-winning 9-1 run.
 
The Saxons will next head to Buffalo State on Tuesday, September 10 for a 7p.m. match.