Russell Sage's Cassidy Weiher (12) with one of her 21 sets at the net to set up the Gators points. PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The 2026 Cardinal Classic opened Friday night before a packed crowd at Memorial Hall as the host Plattsburgh State Cardinals welcomed the Russell Sage Gators of the Empire 8 Conference. Despite a pair of spirited late rallies, the Cardinals couldn't overcome early deficits as the Gators earned a 3-0 sweep to begin their season with a victory. Russell Sage came out strong in the opening set, building an early advantage and forcing the Cardinals to play from behind. Plattsburgh State refused to go quietly, however, finishing the set with a six-point run that nearly completed a dramatic comeback. The rally fell just short as the Gators held on for a narrow 25-23 victory and a one-set-to-none advantage. The second set followed a similar pattern. Russell Sage once again established control early, while the Cardinals spent much of the frame battling to close the gap. A late surge brought Plattsburgh State within striking distance, but the Gators remained composed in the closing moments and secured another 25-23 win to move within a set of victory. Facing a straight-set defeat, the Cardinals delivered their strongest start of the night in the third set, jumping out to an early lead and energizing the home crowd. Russell Sage gradually worked its way back into contention before overtaking Plattsburgh State during the latter stages of the set. The Gators closed out the match with a 25-21 victory, completing the sweep. Russell Sage was led by Emily Trama and Paige Kemmer, who each finished with 11.5 points in the winning effort as the Gators improved to 1-0 on the season. Plattsburgh State received balanced scoring from Darby Collyear, Liya Girma, and Brooke Anderson, who each recorded nine points. While the Cardinals dropped to 0-2, they showed resilience by battling back from deficits in each of the opening two sets and challenging the Gators deep into the contest. With the opening day complete, both teams will return to action on Saturday in Day 2 of the Cardinal Classic. Plattsburgh State will take on SUNY Potsdam, while Russell Sage will face Hartwick as tournament play continues. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Iris Mulvey (10) jumps for one of her seven kills on the match as the Cardinals fall at home. Gallery

Saranac's Brenna Ducatte (14) with the finger-tip spike that she gets over the Hornets defender for the score. It would be the start of the Section VII Volleyball playoffs, and the Plattsburgh High School would host one of the two semi-finals on this day. The #1 Plattsburgh Hornets would enter the playoffs undefeated as they would take on the #4 seeded Saranac Spartans with a spot in the Sectionals finals on Friday against the winner of the Beekmantown Eagles and Saranac Lake Red Storm. The home Hornets would come out firing, but the Spartans would do their best to keep the first set tight, and the Hornets would do better with a 25-19 victory. In the second set, the Spartans would after the win from the start of the seat, and they would get the 25-20 set win. As they head into the third set, the Chiefs would leave little to the imagination as they would get the easy 25-7 victory. As they would head to the 4th set, the Hornets would stay hot as they would get the easy 25-13 victory. The Hornets would win the match 3-1 and go to 17-0 on the season as they will take on the winner of the Beekmantown Eagles and Saranac Lake Red Storm Friday evening with a title on the line. As for the Saranac Spartans, their season would end at 10-7. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Essynce Gorham (14) with the close-up spike as she leaps and gets everything on it for the score. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Natalie Battinelli (11) with the spike between Ausable Valley defenders as she would get the point. It would be the last regular season game for the Plattsburgh Hornets as they would host the Ausable Valley Patriots in Section VII Volleyball action from the Plattsburgh High School. Before the game, they would honor the six seniors on the team. As for the match, the Hornets could win straight sets (25-16, 26-24, and 25-9). In the first two sets of the game, the Patriots would be holding their own and even have the lead a few times and had a chance to win the second set. With the win, the Plattsburgh Hornets would put the bow on their perfect season and go 16-0 as they head into the playoffs. As for the Ausable Valley Patriots, they will fall to 5-1 on the season as they have their season finale Wednesday Night against the Northeastern Clinton Cougars. Gallery

Ausable Valley's 5) with the backhanded flip shot over Plattsburgh's Sienna Ferguson as they were rallying in the first set. Gallery

Northern Adirondack's Allison LaPoint (12) with the spike that she would send back to the Hornets side for the point. It would be Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Volleyball action from Plattsburgh High School as the Hornets would host the Northern Adirondack Bobcats in a late-season tilt. The Plattsburg Hornets would leave little to the contest as they would take the straight-set victory by the score of 25-14, 25-10, and 25-14 for the victory. With the victory, the Hornets would stay perfect on the season as they go to 12-0 and head into their next match next week at Beekmantown for a matchup between the top 2 teams in the league. As the Northern Adirondack Bobcats fall to 1-11 on the season, they will meet up with the 0-8 Northeastern Clinton Cougars on October 21st. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Sadie Walker (13) with the services ace on the Northern Adirondack Bobcats as they would get the straight sets victory on the night. Gallery

Pittsburgh (11) with the kill over the outstretched arms of Beekmantown's (13) for the point. It would be a battle of a pair of undefeated volleyball squads from the Plattsburgh High Gym in Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Volleyball action in front of a packed house. It would be a great match from start to finish. The first game would be a see-saw affair, with the Eagles getting it at 25-21. In the second game, it would be more of the same, but it would see the Hornets get out to a 23-17 lead, but the Eagles would go on a run to tie it at 23, and then they would need a volleyball version of overtime to get a winner as the Hornets take the second game 28-26. Then it would be onto game three, and with them splitting the first two, it has become a best of three, so this would be a vital same, and once again, it would come down to the end, and the Hornets would take the game 25-23 and take the 2-1 sets lead. Then it would be onto elimination game four, and the Eagles were not about to fly away without a fight. They would take it to the Hornets in game four by winning it 25-20 to force the deciding game five. In game five, though, it seemed the Eagles had run out of steam as the Hornets would take the game away with a 15-8 win and get the match won at 3-2. In the winning effort, the Hornets would stay undefeated at 4-0 on the season while the Eagles fall to 4-1. Gallery

Beekmantown's (3) gets up and gets the two-handed block on Plattsburgh's (15) to stop their run. Gallery