BEREA, OH.  – The Hilbert College Men's Volleyball team opened their 2023 season with a pair of non-conference matches at the Baldwin Wallace Invite this afternoon.
 
The Hawks were ready in the opening set as they battled St. Norbert College to three close sets, before falling 3-1.  Hilbert closed the day with a straight-set defeat to the hosts (3-0) and start the season 0-2.
  
HOW IT HAPPENED – St. Norberts
 
After falling 25-22 in set one, the Hawks rebounded to a 25-22 win.  St. Norberts took set three (25-15 and outlasted Hilbert 27-25 for the match victory.
 
The Hawks earned 47 points, 34 kills, six service aces, seven blocks, 32 assists and 44 digs while giving up 64 points, 48 kills, four aces, 12 blocks, 44 assists and 47 digs to St. Norberts.
 
Brad Converse led with 13 kills, added eight digs, and four block assists while Chris Laboy added seven kills (.174) and five digs.  Stephen Houghton led defensively with 10 digs and Austin Chandler passed for 27 of the Hawks 32 assists.  Dylan Suter matched Converse's effort at the net with four block assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – Baldwin Wallace
 
The undefeated Yellow Jackets swept the Hawks 25-18, 25-23, 25-11 in the 5 pm night cap.
 
The Hawks earned 30 points, 21 kills, three service aces, six blocks, 19 assists and 39 digs while giving up 46 points, 35 kills, six aces, five blocks, 33 assists and 41 digs to BW.
 
Alex Overhoff led with a team high six kills and nine digs in the three-set match.  Converse chipped in four kills and eight digs while six different players contributed at the net for the six team blocks.   Connor Higgins and Chris Laboy were each credited with a block solo.
 
UP NEXT

The Hawks return to the Ursprung Gymnasium tomorrow morning when they take on Marian University at 10 am before challenging Loras College at 12:30 pm.