NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College volleyball team dropped four matches this weekend at the SUNY New Paltz Hawk Invite. On Friday the Knights fell to Ithaca College (19-25, 15-25, 13-25), and Clarkson University (19-25, 13-25, 12-25). Saturday, the Mount lost in straight sets to both SUNY Fredonia (10-25, 15-25, 19-25) and Johnson & Wales University (17-25, 25-27, 22-25).

In the match with Ithaca, junior Heather Schaeffer (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) led the defensive effort with 14 digs. Sophomore Mary Ann Raftery (Long Beach, N.Y.) tallied six kills and junior Teresa Sorrentino (Bellerose, N.Y.) added five more. Sophomore Lauren Halverson (Patchogue, N.Y.) dished out a team-high 18 assists in the match.

Against Clarkson University later Friday night, Halverson continued to be a bright spot for the Mount. The sophomore handed out 21 assists, a team-high, and was second on the team with 10 digs. Again, Schaeffer was strong defensively, racking up a team-high 11 digs. Halverson, freshman Kaylene Pennings (Minisink, N.Y.), and sophomore Jacqueline Nadeau (Uniondale, N.Y.) pitched in with five kills each.

The Mount returned to action Saturday morning against SUNY Fredonia, a match that the Knights dropped in straight sets. Schaeffer once again anchored the defense collecting a team-high 10 digs. Halverson pitched in once again with 14 assists.

The Knights faced Johnson & Wales University in their final match at the SUNY New Paltz Hawk Invite. The second set of the match was tight, but the Wildcats took it 27-25 and went on to win in straight sets. Sorrentino was strong on both offense and defense, nabbing a team-high 13 kills and posting 9 digs. Halverson led the Knights with 17 assists and she also posted 8 digs. Schaeffer contributed a team-high 12 digs.

The Knights look to rebound from their four-game losing streak in a home match on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. Mount Saint Mary will host Bard College in their first Skyline conference match.