HAMBURG, N.Y.  – After dropping the first two sets, the Hilbert College Men's Volleyball team rallied for a 25-23 third set win but fell in the fourth set, suffering a 3-1 loss to Thiel College tonight. 
 
The Hawks moved to 1-1 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play while the Tomcats improved to 1-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 
 
Hilbert earned 43 points, 33 kills, five service aces, five blocks, 33 assists and 43 digs while giving up 59 points, 45 kills, seven aces, seven blocks, 45 assists and 46 digs to Thiel. 

• Hilbert looked flat early in the first set as the Tomcats opened with an 8-1, then 9-3 lead before Brad Converse served them back to a 9-6 score.  After a quick Tomcat sideout, Alex Overhoff pulled the Hawks within one point (10-9) then Dylan Suter's service ace knotted the game at 11-all.  Thiel  went on two runs and pulled away for the 25-18 victory.
• Hilbert looked in good shape in the second set, building a 5-1 margin which stretched to a 7-3 lead.  Thiel forced a 8-8 score, then, after falling by two points, used a 6-point run to go up 14-10.  The Hawks got right back in the game fueled by all Thiel errors and played to even scores at 15, 16, and 17.  They were able to pull within one point two more times before Thiel finished the set at 25-20.
• The third set was competitive – with the score being tied five times by the 11-11 point.  Thiel went up 17-12 and maintained the five point spread through to 19-14.  Hilbert took a 21-20 advantage off Chris Laboy and Alex Overhoff's kills in addition to five Tomcat errors.  Each team traded sideouts but Thiel earned back-to-back points taking the 23-22 lead.  Chris Laboy finished a Ryan Levcik assist then Levcik earned a service ace before the Tomcats were called for an attack error posting the 25-23 Hilbert win.
• The Hawks looked in rhythm in the fourth set, earning multiple points in a row while building a 9-6 advantage.  The Tomcats came back and jumped on top, 12-11. Again, both teams traded sideouts through to 14's but Thiel strung together a four-point run and took the wind out of Hilbert's sails.  Leading 20-16, Thiel closed the match on another five point run for the match victory 25-16. 

Brad Converse did a lot of damage tonight at the net.  He was either swinging for the fences or dinking over the block for soft kills.  He earned game-high honors on the court with 17 kills with only five errors (.286).  Chris Laboy added 10 kills and two solo blocks matching Dylan Suter's defensive effort at the net.  Ryan Levcik was doing double duty, collecting a team-high 12 digs and was credited with 31 assists. 
 
UP NEXT

Hilbert (2-6, 1-1 AMCC) can enjoy a 10-day break from competition and they will return to AMCC action Saturday, January 11 at St. Vincent College.