Determined to improve upon a 2-2 start to the season last weekend, the NYU women’s volleyball team traveled to New Paltz, NY this weekend, taking three out of four matches at the Hawks Invitational. The Violets handily defeated the Sage Colleges and Mount St. Mary College on Friday before dropping a four-setter to Clarkson University. However, the team was able to bounce back in its second match on Saturday, sending host SUNY New Paltz home in four sets.

The Violets made it look easy on Friday, kicking off the action with a painless victory over the Sage Colleges 25-10, 25-11 and 25-17. There was no doubt the Violets were leading the charge. Junior middle blocker Rayne Ellis finished with 14 kills, while sophomore setter Kathryn Goyette finished with 33 assists.

The same momentum was seen later that day against Mount Saint Mary, with the Violets once again firmly in control, taking sets 25-15, 25-20 and 25-17. Familiar faces filled the stats sheet, as Ellis again led the Violets with 13 kills and sophomore outside hitter Shelby King close behind with nine. Goyette finished with eight assists, while her counterpart sophomore setter Daryl Mitchell finished with 21.

However, not all was well for the Violets this weekend, as the team dropped a match to Clarkson. The Violets bounced back after losing the first set 25-15  as they took the second 25-21 to even the score. However, it wasn’t enough as Clarkson took the third set 25-21 and eventually put the Violets away in a thrilling 30-28 fourth. Team leaders include sophomore middle blocker Gretchen Cash with 13 kills, and King, who finished with nine.

Fortunately, there was an opportunity for redemption later, as the Violets ensured that they finished above .500 for the weekend with a four-set win over SUNY New Paltz 27-25, 25-21,16-25, 25-13. The first set was the most hotly contested, with both teams trading points until the Violets were able to gain a two-point lead in the extra portion of the frame. They followed this up with another solid set in the second before dropping the third. However, the small dip didn’t matter in the end, as the Violets played a fantastic fourth set, similar to some earlier in the weekend.

The Violets led in every major category. Freshman outside hitter Caroline Rapp led in kills this time around with 15, while it was business as usual for Goyette with 35 assists.

Goyette was beaming with how the weekend turned out and how the team really gelled.

“[I]t was an awesome weekend for us,” Goyette said. “We had so many learning opportunities and made quick changes that clearly pushed us toward three victories. After dropping the first match of the day on Saturday against Clarkson, we were more determined than ever to beat the host team, New Paltz.

With two early-season tournaments in their rearview mirror, the Violets, now 5-3, play across the East River this Tuesday against Brooklyn College before traversing the Hudson for the Ducks Classic in Hoboken, New Jersey on Friday.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Sept. 12 print edition. Email Michael Thompson at [email protected].