(BOX SCORE)

BUFFALO, NY—Nationally No. 17-ranked Cortland (33-5) pushed past host Buffalo State (26-8) in straight sets to claims its third-consecutive SUNYAC Championship today at the Sports Arena and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs.  The Red Dragons prevailed 26-24, 25-20 and 25-21, to earn their 19th conference title. 

Senior Ashley Coyle (Mt. Hope/Minisink Valley) led the Red Dragons attack with 13 kills.  Kristen Guercio (Smithtown/Smithtown East) dished out 34 assists and had 10 digs, while Krissy Silk (Massapequa Park/Massapequa) had a team-best 30 digs.  Ava Hintz (E. Aurora/E. Aurora) and Aubrey Barrett (Liverpool/Liverpool) each chipped in seven kills and four blocks. 

Sherrell McLean (Buffalo/City Honors) had a team-best nine kills for Buffalo State, and Sam Parente (E. Patchogue/Bellport) had eight kills and five blocks.  Kelsey Bashore (Antwerp, OH/Antwerp) had 22 assists to go with 11 digs.  Kayla Pyc (Grand Island/Grand Island) added five kills and six blocks, and Chelsea Moore (Kenmore/Kenmore West) had 28 digs.

The first set went back-and-forth before Cortland finally prevailed 26-24.  Buffalo State opened with a 7-5 advantage, but the Red Dragons answered with an 8-2 run to pull ahead 13-9.  After falling behind 17-14, Buffalo State assembled a 5-0 run to go ahead 19-17, but Cortland had the answer again and took the opening set.

In the second frame, the teams were even at 15-15, but Cortland used a 5-1 run from their and pushed to the two-set advantage.

Buffalo State would not go away, however, putting together an early stretch of six-consecutive points to get out to a 10-7 advantage.  Still trailing at 15-14, Cortland responded, however, winning five-consecutive points to take a lead it would not relinquish.

Tournament MVP:  Natalie Zacpal (Cortland)
All-Tournament Team: Krissy Silk (Cortland), Ava Hintz (Cortland), Sam Parente (Buffalo State), Chelsea Moore (Buffalo State), Lauren Hokaj (Fredonia), Marissa King (New Paltz)

Buffalo State will now have to wait until tomorrow to see if it did enough to earn an at-large bid for its first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs.  The selection show will air at 11 a.m. on www.ncaa.com.