Box Score NEW PALTZ, NY—Samantha Parente (E. Patchogue/Bellport) was named tournament MVP and Buffalo State (25-9) captured its first-ever SUNYAC Championship and make its first trip to the NCAA Tournament today by defeating host New Paltz (32-6) in four sets, winning 26-28, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-21.

Parente led the Bengals' offense again with 16 kills. Kayla Pyc (Grand Island/Grand Island) added 11 kills and six blocks, and Hannah Renaldo (N. Collins/N. Collins) also had 11 kills. Kelsey Bashore (Antwerp, OH/Antwerp) had 44 assists and 12 digs, Chelsea Moore (Kenmore/Kenmore West) had 18 digs, and Sarah Horvath (Blasdell/Immaculata) had 10 kills and 15 digs.

New Paltz jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the opening set, before the Bengals battled back and staved off four set points, but the Hawks eventually took the set 28-26. Buffalo State raced out to an 11-2 lead in the second set and withstood a late rally by the Hawks to hang on for the 2-point win. The Bengals used a 6-1 run to rally from an 18-14 deficit to claim the third set, and used an early 6-1 run to take a lead it would never relinquish in the deciding set.

Horvath and Moore joined Parente on the All-Tournament Team.

Buffalo State's victory earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs which begin on Friday. The Bengals will learn their destination and opponent when the NCAA announces the full tournament field and bracket tomorrow at 11 a.m.