New Paltz, NY - The St. John Fisher College men's volleyball team took to the floor on Saturday afternoon for the first of two United Volleyball Conference matchups of the weekend. The Cardinals fell to the currently ranked #9 SUNY New Paltz in a battling four sets 18-25, 26-24, 28-26, 25-18. With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 9-10 overall and 0-4 in UVC play, while the Hawks improve to 12-5 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

New Paltz jumped out to an early 7-1 point run on the Cardinals to start the first set. Fisher was able to pull back to momentum with the help of two kills from Kevin Cahill and one from Ben De La Cruz helped bring the Hawk lead to just one. New Paltz was able to pull away in the set hitting .346% on 26 total attempts.

The Cardinal offense did not let the slow start follow them into the second set, Fisher was able to capture the first three points of the set. The teams traded points back and forth with the score being tied seven times throughout the set. The Cardinals rallied back from three down to tie the set at 24 off of a Cahil block and kill. Eventually, the Hawks captured the next two points and the second set.

The third set saw more back and forth action throughout, with both teams trading points back and forth trying to gain momentum. Fisher again rallied back from three down late in the set to tie the game at 24 apiece. This time the ending was a bit different with the help of a Matt Broderick kill to put the team up 27-26 and Joe Kenney set-winning block to claim set three.

As much of the entire game was, the action in the fourth set followed suit with both squads trading points not allowing any long point runs. The set was tied 13-13, until the Hawks put together a 10-2 run and eventually coming away with a win in the fourth set.

Cahil led the way offensively from the Cardinals in the match notching a game-high 11 kills, while De La Cruz and Kenney each added eight kills apiece. Middle blockers Mike Strumpfler and Broderick also pitched in five and four kills respectively.

Libero David Cerqua led the way defensively for Fisher posting seven digs in the match, while six were added by Kenney. Quinn Magiera finished with a game-high 30 assists from the setter position and also posting four digs.

The Cardinals are back in action again tomorrow in New Paltz, N.Y. for another United Volleyball Conference matchup, this time with The Sage Colleges that is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start.