ATLANTA, Ga. -- A tightly played match went against the Covenant volleyball team on Friday afternoon as the Scots opened the season at the Emory Classic. Covenant fell to SUNY New Paltz 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22) in the first of three weekend matches at the tournament.

Covenant falls to 0-1 on the year, while New Paltz improved to 1-1.

Sara Delk led the attack for Covenant with a career-high 11 kills to go with 14 digs. Hannah Harris and Lindsey Stephens had seven kills apiece and Allie Jakes added six kills and five total blocks. Olivia Sanders had 21 assists and Sophie Puertas added nine. Emily Moore totaled 19 digs and Hannah Stewart collected 13 digs to help Covenant defensively. 

Covenant struggled to find a rhythm in the first set, netting just seven kills, but still found itself in a position to win the set. New Paltz would take a 20-15 lead late in the frame, but the Scots sliced that down to 24-23 after a New Paltz error. However, New Paltz would earn the final point on a Covenant error to go ahead 1-0.

The offense got going in the second set as the Scots hit at a .231 clip with 12 kills. Covenant led for most of the set, but would have to hold off a late New Paltz rally and a Delk kill gave the Scots the set point. 

Covenant hung around in the third and fourth sets, but was unable to get over the hump. A quick, 5-1 run by New Paltz in the third set broke a 16-16 tie and would give them the lead for good. In the fourth, New Paltz scored the final three points to break a 22-22 tie and take the match.

Julie Greenspan led New Paltz with 15 kills, while Madison Van Peltz had 11 kills. Meredith Dignan totaled 29 assists and 15 digs in the win.

UP NEXT

Covenant will face Texas-Tyler (12:30 p.m.) and No. 5 Emory (5:30 p.m.) on Saturday to conclude the Emory Classic.

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