JAMAICA, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College women's volleyball lost a non-conference matchup Thursday evening to the SUNY Old Westbury Panthers (4-5), falling in straight sets (25-11, 25-12, 25-12) inside York College Gymnasium. 

The Panthers blitzed the Cardinals early on, getting out to a 11-0 lead. York showed some fight in the set, gaining seven of the following fourteen points. However, Old Westbury proved too strong. The team improved throughout the set, committing fewer unforced errors and digging consistently. 

York carried their focus defensively into the following stanza, taking a 9-8 lead. Clinging to the advantage, the Panthers put the hammer down, winning 17 of the next 20 points. York played well during this stretch, though, as many long rallies went Old Westbury's way. 

Down 8-1, the third set looked bleak for the Cardinals. Yet, they put together a mini 6-3 spurt, and the crowd began cheering hard. Trying to overturn an 11-7 deficit, the Panthers turned the jets on, winning the final frame by double-digits. 

"With each game, the team is building on the last. Working together to extend our rallies and hustling for every ball. Today, we got to see a glimpse into some of the hard work being put in day in and day out at practices. Though they still have many hurdles to jump over, they continue to make progress."-said head coach Christy Herring

Shamonie Miller, Ellma Hodzic, and Cherub Autar predominantly contributed to York's defensive and offensive counterpunch. Hodzic finished with a game-high eight digs as Miller added seven of her own. Attacking the ball, Hodzic and Miller recorded 26 and 23 total swings, respectively, tallying three kills each. Setting her teammates up, Autar finished with seven assists.

Clarissa Olivero, Stephanie Maser, and Rachelle Marrero displayed a formidable trio for the Panthers. Olivero had a game-best 11.5 points, with 10 of those coming via kills. Stephanie Maser totaled nine points and had a game-high three aces. Quarterbacking the team, Marrero finished with 28 assists. 

Old Westbury finished with the advantage in points (50-11), kills (36-7), aces (10-1) and assists (24-7). As the Panthers recorded more digs (38-23), that difference discrepancy failed to do justice to the Cardinals' defensive display, as the team turned many kill attempts from the Panthers into longer rallies. 

The Cardinals (0-13, 0-4 CUNYAC) resume CUNYAC play Thursday (Oct. 13) on the road against the John Jay College Bloodhounds (7-6, 2-0 CUNYAC) at 7 p.m. inside The Doghouse. 

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