PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The Peru Nighthawks closed out a strong road performance Wednesday night, defeating the Plattsburgh Hornets in four sets, 25-22, 20-25, 26-24, 25-21, in NYSPHSAA Section VII girls volleyball action during the Hornets' home finale. Peru entered the contest with a 9-5 record, while Plattsburgh came in at 9-4, and both teams delivered a tightly contested match featuring momentum swings throughout the evening. The Nighthawks captured the opening set 25-22 after a back-and-forth battle. Plattsburgh made things interesting late with a 5-1 surge, but Peru held firm to take the early advantage. The Hornets answered in the second set, using a decisive 10-2 run to take control and earn a 25-20 victory, evening the match at one set apiece and energizing the home crowd. Set three proved to be the turning point. Neither squad could create much separation before the teams battled into extra points. Peru ultimately won 26-24 to reclaim the lead and move within one set of the match. The fourth set was another close contest, with both sides trading points throughout. Peru made the key plays late and secured a 25-21 win to complete the four-set victory. With the win, the Nighthawks improved to 10-5, while the Hornets dropped to 9-5. Peru returns to action Monday against the Saranac Spartans, while Plattsburgh will travel to face the AuSable Valley Patriots as both teams continue their push toward the Section VII postseason. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Olivia Lathrop (12) with the two-handed push shot to the corner for the point. Gallery

Peru's (20) with the block on the spike attempt on Saranac Lake's Gracen Foster. It would be the opening match of the season for both the Peru Nighthawks and the Saranac Lake Red Storm in Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Volleyball action from Peru. It might have been the first of the season but it might have been a candidate for match of the season as it would go all give sets including the fourth one going to a 26-24 for the Red Storm. In the end, the Red Storm would just be too much on this day for the home Nighthawks as the Red Storm go to 1-0 while the Nighthawks fall to 0-1 on the season. Gallery

Peru's (11) with the set on the waiting spike attempt for the Nighthawks point try. Gallery