HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College men's volleyball team captured their first set victory for the 2022 season against SUNY Potsdam this evening in the Hafner Recreation Center.
The Hawks then dropped three closely contested games to the Bears from northern NY who entered the first day of a three-day tour of WNY campuses.
THE BASICS
- Match Scores: SUNY Potsdam 22, 25, 25, 25 I Hilbert 25, 21, 17, 16
- Location: Hafner Recreation Center, Hamburg, NY
- Records: Bears 4-2 I Hilbert 0-5
HIGHLIGHTS
Brad Converse plastered 18 kills with only six attack errors (.308) and added five digs while his freshman teammate,
Ryan Levcik posted his first double-digit 11 kill night with only three hitting errors.
Marcus Wloch was credited with 10 digs,
Austin Chandler earned 28 assists and seven digs and
Nick Diello snuck in three service aces.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Hilbert went out in the first set building an 8-6 lead before the Bears rallied back jumping ahead 16-13. The Hawks, fueled by a 7-0 run, regained the lead at 21-17 and held on for their first victory this year. Hilbert earned five kills and a service ace in that momentum shifting run.
- Both teams played tight the second set, keeping the score withing striking distance. After a Hilbert timeout, where the Hawks trailed 15-12, the home team earned four straight points to go back on top,16-15. But four Hilbert errors gave the Bears a three-point lead which they maintained to the set point win.
- Neither team, in the early part of the third set, could muster more than 3 points at a time. Hilbert held an 11-10 lead, knotted the game at 12-12 but then slowly fell behind as the match progressed. The Hawks began to press and started the give points away; the closest they got again was a the end of the set when Ryan Levcik posted another kill (21-17). The Bears finished the set with a Hilbert freebie, a Potsdam kill and back-to-back service aces for the win.
- The Hawks quickly found themselves trailing in the final set by five points before the guests reached 10 points. Hilbert battled though long rallies but just didn't come up with sideouts when they needed. Potsdam earned back-to-back solo blocks in the last five points of the set for the match win.
GAME NOTES
- The Hawks produced their most impressive hitting display tonight finishing at .162 for the night. They collected 35 kills, 43 points, four service aces, four blocks, 31 assists and 34 digs.
- The Bears found 50 kills, 64 points, nine service aces, five blocks, 45 assists and 37 digs. Potsdam closed the game with 16 service errors which turned into unearned points for the Hawks.
UP NEXT
Hilbert returns to action Wednesday February 2
nd when they travel to Buffalo to take on D'Youville College in a rescheduled game earlier this week.
