ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Hilbert College men's volleyball team opened the first day of the a two-day United Volleyball Conference weekend with a three-set loss to #3 MIT tonight.  Adam Weaver led all players with 12 kills (4k/s).  MIT improved to 14-3 in league play and held onto second place with a 7-1 record. 

The Engineers were led by Kenny Siebert's 10 kills and had two setters post double figure assists. 

Korey Schwab gave Hilbert eight kills (.500) but it was Andrew Wolbert's .635 percentage that led the Hawks (five kills, zero hitting errors).  Adam Heftka assisted on 19 of Hilbert's 30 kills with seven other Hawks getting credit for at least one assist. 

Wolbert had a great game on defense up high.  He earned two solo blocks and added four assisted blocks.  Adam Weaver and Andrew Duncan picked up one solo block each.

David Mellerski and Ryan Ratajczak were credited with eight and seven digs each.

Hilbert started the first set with an early lead off kills by Weaver and Mellerski and an Engineer hitting errors.  MIT knotted the game 6-6 and Hilbert forced two more ties – at 11 and 15.  The Engineers earned five straight points to build a large enough lead for the win (25-18) late in the match.

Hilbert again started fast and took an early lead.  The match went back and forth with momentum late in the game in MIT's favor.  With a 24-18 MIT lead, Hilbert rallied three straight points to cut the score.  But a kill by MIT gave them their second win, 25-21.

The score difference in the final set was never more than four points.  Hilbert jumped out early, MIT fought back, took a lead, Hilbert cut it close, then the #3 team in the country stayed strong and held on for the 25-21 victory.

MIT finished with 15 more kills than the Hawks and added 42 assists in three sets.  The Engineers completed the day hitting .319 at the net while Hilbert ended with a .179 attack percentage.

The Hawks (4-19, 0-7) will return to action tomorrow at 11:00 against Vassar College then wait until 3pm to take on the #1 team in Division III, New Paltz.  Both games will have live-stats during the match and you can link here to view.