POTSDAM, N.Y. - The Simmons College volleyball team was defeated by State University of New York at New Paltz, 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-18) this afternoon at the Clarkson University Classic Volleyball Tournament at Alumni Gymnasium in Potsdam, N.Y. The Sharks drop to 0-3 on the season, while the Hawks even their record at 2-2.

New Paltz commanded the opening set with a 25-10 win, but had to work a bit harder in the final two sets as Simmons improved its hitting percentage in each of the last two frames. The Hawks took the second set, 25-19 and the finale, 25-18.

Junior outside hitter Becca Borquist (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) led the New Paltz offense with a match-high 12 kills on a .367 hitting percentage to go with nine digs, while sophomore outside hitter Katy Braddon (Canandaigua, N.Y.) put down nine kills and fired four aces to give her a match-best 13 points. She also added seven digs. Freshman setter Maddie Zwicki (Chester, N.Y.) paced the offense with 30 assists in addition to three kills and a pair of digs and senior libero Katy Herbst (Webster, N.Y.) led all players with 13 digs to anchor the defense.

The first year duo of Sarah Woodward (Deerfield, Mass.) and Emmee Ashby (Payson, Ariz.) each put away eight kills apiece to lead the Sharks' attack. Ashby owned an impressive .429 hitting percentage in addition to an ace, a block assist and two digs, while Woodward was excellent on the defensive end as well with seven digs and a block assist to go with a pair of service aces. Sophomore setter Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) posted a season-high 23 assists and 10 digs, while sophomore libero Alex Itasaka (Bradford, Mass.) scooped up 12 digs.

Simmons will be in action again on Tuesday, September 2 in its home opener vs. Smith College at 5:00 p.m. at Moore Gymnasium in the Holmes Sports Center, while the Hawks return to action on September 5, hosting Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 4:00 p.m.