ELMIRA, N.Y. – The second day of the very competitive United Volleyball Conference cross-over tournament took its toll on the Hilbert College men's volleyball today.  The Hawks struggled to convert on offense and finished the day with two 3-set losses as they slipped to 0-9 in league play. 

Vassar took the first match of the day and improved to 3-8 after the victory while New Paltz moved to 7-2 while still trailing league-leader Nazareth College in the standings.

Adam Weaver led the Hawks with 18 kills scoring nine in each match.  David Mellerski carried Hilbert defensively posting 19 digs on the day and served as the primary setter earning 29 assists on the Hawks 36 kills.

Vassar captured the set (25-14, 25-21, 25-14) offensively after they doubled Hilbert's kill production (43-21).  Andrew Wolbert finished with the best hitting percentage (.222) consisting of three kills and one error.   The freshman middle also earned the game's only solo block.  Weaver led with nine kills in 38 attempts.  Mellerski added 16 assists to his team-high 12 digs.

After a break, Hilbert returned to action and faced the #1 ranked team in Division III New Paltz at 3pm.   

The only similarity between the two programs is the school mascot.  The Hawks from the State University of New York system dominated the net finishing with 36 kills and 18 assisted blocks in addition to their two solo blocks.  New Paltz had five players score five kills or more with Christin Smith leading with seven.  The top team ended the match hitting .324. 

Hilbert was slow to start, losing 25-11 and 25-13.  They regrouped and challenged New Paltz to a 28-26 exciting match.  The Hawks from downstate rallied stretching their 11-9 lead to a 15-9, then 17-10.  Adam Weaver scored a service ace while the downstate Hawks committed attack errors or service errors allowing Hilbert to cut the deficit to 20-17.  Hilbert stayed strong and Adam Weaver's third ace in the match knotted the game at 24.  He followed that with a kill to take their only lead 26-25 which forced a New Paltz timeout.  Downstate Hawks earned two points before Andrew Duncan tied the game at 26 off his third kill of the match.  The following two points were awarded to New Paltz which also ended the match.

Adam Weaver again was the game-leader with nine kills (of Hilbert's 15) while he was credited with three service aces.  Mellerski again led with assists (13) and digs (7) during the match.

Hilbert returns to action this week when they travel back to Elmira for their second-to-last UVC match on March 12.  Hilbert then hosts Medaille College Sunday, March 16 before they finish their UVC schedule March 19 against D'Youville in Hamburg.