OLD WESTBURY, N.Y.- Playing its second match in less than 24 hours, the Daemen College women's volleyball team dropped a straight-sets defeat on the road to the New York Institute of Technology (18-25, 12-25, 16-25) at Recreation Hall today. The loss drops Daemen (6-5 overall) to 0-2 in East Coast Conference play to start the season while NYIT kept its record unblemished (11-0, 2-0 ECC).
 
Daemen had no answer for NYIT's senior stud, Shelby Cable.  Cable, who recorded her 1,000th career kill and 1,000th career dig in a match earlier this week vs. American International College, racked up 17 kills and 11 digs in the match to lead the Bears.

Taylor Pulley added 16 digs and Marija Jovanovic added 39 assists and 10 digs for NYIT.  As a whole, the Bears were able to succeed in two areas that Daemen struggled in, notching 12 total team blocks while attacking at a .347 clip. 

The lone bright spots for the Wildcats in the loss were Kaley Vazquez (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore West) and Paige Tilert (Derby, N.Y./Genesee CC). Vazquez had a solid all-around game with seven digs and a team-leading 12 assists, and Tilert notched Daemen's highest dig total of the match with 15.

Reigning ECC Player of the Week Ye Wang (Beijing, China/Hachioji Jissen) managed a team-high seven kills for the Wildcats.
 
Much like in last night's loss to Long Island University Post, the Wildcats struggled with defense and hitting against the Bears, posting just four total team blocks and hitting at a .047 clip.

"They really took it to us today," said Daemen head coach Mark Parisi.  "They have a very talented, senior-laden squad and they held nothing back against us."

Parisi continued, "We've now seen two very good ECC opponents who are made up of some outstanding players from all over North America and Europe.  This has been a great measuring stick for our team and I'm sure they understand what it will take to compete the next time we take the court.  We are close but need to bring more aggressive, focused play from the first point."
 
The Wildcats conclude their road trip tomorrow (Sept. 29) against Dowling College in Oakdale, N.Y. It will be their third match in as many days, and their third straight against an ECC opponent.