NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Coming of the team's first United Volleyball Conference victory over Bard College on Friday, the nationally-ranked men's volleyball team was defeated by No. 14 SUNY New Paltz Saturday afternoon inside the Hawk Center. With the loss, Fisher, which is ranked 13th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, moves to 12-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference, while the Hawks improve to 11-3 and 3-0 in the UVC.
 
The majority of the Cardinal's offense came from outside hitters Josh Bigford, who finished with 13 kills, and Jake Baker, who produced 10 kills. Matt Beiter continued to be a threat at the service line as the sophomore finished the match with three aces. Setter Paul Hackford assisted on 14 kills and tallied six digs along the way, while libero David Cerqua had a team-high eight digs. 
 
Opening the match, the Cardinals jumped ahead quick scoring five of the game's first eight points behind a Baker kill and Beiter ace to lead 5-2.
 
From there, All-American Bigford made his presence felt following a huge kill assisted by Evan Ingerick, just before the Hawks found their rhythm and produced an 11-2 run.
 
Trailing 11-19, Fisher was able to mount a comeback behind kills by Baker and Griffin Stella to close the gap to six, but it was not enough as New Paltz would take set one 25-18. 
 
As the second set started, the Cardinals relied on Baker and Bigford as the duo combined for a pair of kills early on to make it 8-8.
 
As the set wore on, a pair of runs by each team put the game in a back-and-forth battle, before the Hawks jumped ahead 23-18. A Bigford kill closed the gap to four, before New Paltz would win the next two points and take the set 25-19.
 
Down two sets to none, head coach Stephen England rallied his troops for set three. With its back against the wall, Fisher came out hot to take a 10-5 advantage behind kills by Bigford and Stella.
 
The lead would not hold as the Hawks would produce a 9-2 lead to take a 17-14 advantage.
 
From there, New Paltz would score eight of the games next 12 points to claim set three and win the match 3-0.
 
As a team, Fisher hit .215 in the loss with 28 kills, five blocks, and 25 digs.
 
The Cardinals will return to action at 2 p.m. on Friday as they host No. 2 Vassar College inside Manning and Napier Varsity Gymnasium in another nationally-ranked matchup.