Hartwick's Isabella Gracias (14) reaches up to get the block on Russell Sage's Allie Salvione (5). PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The final match of the Cardinal Classic featured a pair of Empire 8 Conference rivals as the Hartwick Hawks and Russell Sage Gators met in a non-conference showdown at Memorial Hall before a crowd of 250 spectators. Entering the match, Russell Sage was looking to complete an undefeated weekend and secure the tournament championship, while Hartwick sought to finish the event on a winning note. The Gators came out firing in the opening set, jumping out to a commanding 9-1 lead and appearing poised to take early control. Hartwick quickly regrouped and mounted an impressive comeback, erasing the deficit and pulling away late for a 25-23 victory to grab a 1-0 lead in the match. Russell Sage responded in the second set, once again getting off to a strong start. The Hawks battled back and kept the set close throughout, but the Gators held firm in extra points to earn a 26-24 victory and even the match at one set apiece. With the match tied, Hartwick turned in its strongest performance of the afternoon in the third set. The Hawks controlled play from the opening serve and cruised to a 25-18 win, moving ahead 2-1 and placing themselves one set away from victory. The fourth set proved to be another tightly contested affair as Russell Sage refused to go quietly. The Gators pushed Hartwick throughout the set, but the Hawks made the key plays down the stretch and secured a 25-23 victory to close out the match and claim the 3-1 win. Hartwick finished the weekend with a 2-1 record, while Russell Sage also concluded tournament play at 2-1, falling short of its bid for an undefeated weekend and the tournament title. Lucille Walker delivered a dominant performance for the Hawks, pacing the offense with 28 points. Russell Sage was led by Paige Kemmer, who finished with 15 points in the defeat. The victory allowed Hartwick to end the Cardinal Classic on a high note, as the Hawks overcame an early deficit and used strong play over the final three sets to earn a hard-fought victory over their Empire 8 counterpart. Gallery