CORTLAND, N.Y. - Cortland split two matches to finish 1-2 during the opening weekend of SUNYAC women's volleyball conference play. The Red Dragons swept Plattsburgh, 25-16, 25-17, 25-19, to open play Saturday at Corey Gymnasium. New Paltz beat Cortland, 25-16, 25-18, 25-17, during the day's final time slot.

Cortland (5-9, 1-2 SUNYAC) will host Ithaca in a dual match Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Red Dragons' next SUNYAC action will be three matches, hosted by Buffalo State, Oct. 5-6, and the final regular-season league weekend will be in Brockport Oct. 19-20. The top six teams qualify for the SUNYAC playoffs.

Bridgette Moran (Massapequa Park/St. John the Baptist) led Cortland versus Plattsburgh with nine kills and a .500 attack percentage (two errors in 14 attempts). Kiersten Cote (East Rockaway/Kellenberg Memorial) and Nadia Moore (Durham, NC/Durham School of the Arts) finished with six kills apiece. Cote hit at a .385 clip (one error in 13 attempts).

Gabby Amelio (Pine Bush) dished out 22 assists and led the team with six aces. Moran served four aces, Cote led the team with 11 digs, and Camryn Anderson (Bronx/Cardinal Spellman) registered four blocks. Plattsburgh (now 4-11, 1-2 SUNYAC) was led by Megan Hyde's seven kills.

Cortland opened an 11-2 lead in the first set on the way to an easy win. The second set was tighter, with Plattsburgh trailing only 11-10 before the Red Dragons went on a 6-1 run. Cortland took an 11-2 lead again in the third set, but the Cardinals responded and were within 19-18 before a Moore kill started a final 6-1 run.

New Paltz (14-3, 3-0 SUNYAC) used a 5-1 streak in the first set versus Cortland to turn a 16-14 lead into a 21-15 advantage. The second set was tied at 11-11 but the Hawks scored four straight points and led by at least three the rest of the way. The teams were tied 13-13 in third when New Paltz rattled off five straight points. Cortland fought back to within 18-16 after a Cote ace, but the Hawks scored seven of the match's final eight points.

Moore paced Cortland with eight kills and Nicole Van Pelt (Montgomery/Valley Central) had seven kills with no errors in 17 attempts for a .412 attack percentage. Amelio totaled 23 assists and five digs and Cote had two aces and seven digs.

Taylor Cimillo led New Paltz with nine kills. Kerri Neville and Madison Van Pelt - Nicole's sister - each had eight kills and Meredith Dignan ended with 30 assists.