Upper Montclair, NJ - The Montclair State University volleyball team opened its 2001 campaign tonight with a 3-2 loss to SUNY-New Paltz at Panzer Gymnasium. MSU took Game One by a 32-30 score before SUNY rebounded for 30-15 and 30-23 victories in Games Two and Three, respectively. The Red Hawks forced a fifth game with a 30-28 triumph in Game Four, only to fall, 15-10, to the visiting Hawks in the deciding contest.

SUNY junior hitter Crystal Smith (Westhampton, NY) led all players with 24 kills and 29 digs, while senior setter Giselle Medina (Brentwood, NY) finished with 28 assists, 16 digs and six kills for the Hawks. MSU freshman hitter TIFFANY ACIZ (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) led MSU with 10 kills and 24 digs in her collegiate debut, while sophomore setter CARMEN ALVARADO (Newark, NJ/Barringer) also posted 10 kills to go along with 10 digs, seven assists, five service aces and three block assists.

Red Hawk freshman setter JENNIFER OLAN (Jersey City, NJ/McNair Academy) opened her college career with a team-high 20 assists, while junior defender MELISSA STRAUSS (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) finished with 19 digs and five kills.