Hilbert / UPG Game File

HAMBURG, N.Y. – It was Hilbert College's turn to host an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference cross-over women's volleyball day-long set of games October 19. The Hawks hosted D'Youville College, Pitt-Greensburg and Penn State Altoona.

Hilbert went 2-0 beating Altoona in five sets and sweeping Greensburg. Both Altoona and D'Youville finished 1-1 with the Spartans from D'Youville also gaining a win over Greensburg.

Hilbert and Greensburg opened the day with a close first set before Hilbert put the match away quickly the final two sets (25-22, 25-14, 25-12). Allegra Johnson and Amanda Binder worked the net going an impressive combined 14-1-30. Overall, Hilbert finished with .247 attack percentage and 12 service aces. Chelsea Reischuck and Kayla Lewis shared honors with five aces each.

D'Youville and Greensburg played to a 3-1 match score. All four sets were close but the Spartans were able to put the final three games away (21-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-21). Kaylee Stewart finished with 12 kills and Natalie Rieman added 10. Three Spartans collected most of the team's digs led by Lara Svensson's 25 digs. Greensburg's Jaime Barkman was credited with 11 kills while hitting the team 's best .214 attack percentage. Four Bobcats reached double digit digs, led by Emily Zelenka's 22. D'Youville's Alyssa Dueringe's 29 assists almost matched Greensburg's team total of 33 assists.

After a break for Penn State Altoona's team warm-up, D'Youville wasn't able to put it back together as they fell in three straight to the Lions (25-21,25-17,25-14). Altoona dominated the net hitting 41 team kills (.293) while D'Youville finished with 16 team kills (-.011). Kaylee Stewart netted seven kills and Kayla Deth and Lara Svensson each had 11 digs. Mariah McDowell led Altoona with .429 attack percentage finishing with 14 kills and only two errors. Leah Brutz passed for 35 assists while also getting five service aces. Three Lions dug 10 digs.

In the final match of the long day, Hilbert battled back while Altoona fought to hold on. The Hawks trailed the match after losing the first set, 25-19 before they jumped back and took a 25-23 second set. The Lions rebounded with a 25-15 score only to find the Hawks fighting for a 25-14 fourth set victory. Hilbert carried that momentum into the shortened fifth set and rose to a 15-12 set/match win.

Altoona finished with one more kills (49 / 48) and better hitting percentage (.273 / .136) but the Hawks earned more service aces and fewer errors (blocking/ball handling and receiving).

Altoona's Mariah McDowell (15 kills and 4 blocks) and Amanda Hammer (14 kills and 3 blocks) led the visitor's at the net. Brutz again carried the team's pace with 39 assists and four players this match reached for double-digit digs, led by McDowell's 17.

Freshman Amanda Binder exploded for 16 kills with many of them coming late and two solo blocks to put the match away. Allegra Johnson added 9 kills and four service aces and Shannon Memminger had a great game passing for 40 assists (two aces) while also adding 12 digs. Chelsea Reischuck was credited with 17 digs, one more than Jordan Botsford.

After Hilbert's two wins, they move to second place in AMCC standings at 5-1. They dropped Altoona to 3-2 (T-4) and Greensburg to 0-5 (9th). D'Youville holds a 2-3 record and sits in a two-way tie for 6th place with Medaille.

The Hawks return to action this week when they return to North Buffalo for their AMCC contest October 22 at Medaille. Their last two league games happen to be at home against Bradford (Oct. 30) and November 2, Senior Day, against Franciscan.