POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Hilbert College Women's Volleyball team clawed their way to a pair of 5-set match wins today on Day 2 of the North Country Classic.
Out of the ten sets played, four sets were won by only a two-point difference and two of those four sets went past a 25 score.
With the opening victory over Potsdam today, the team earned more victories this season than the entire 2022 year. And, they added to that with another hard-fought, nail-biting win at the end of the day.
THE BASICS
Final score: Hilbert 25, 17, 21, 25, 16 | SUNY Potsdam 21, 25, 25, 23, 14
Final score: Hilbert 25, 24, 27, 21, 15 | Northern Vermont U-Johnson 17, 26, 25, 25,12
Location: Maxcy Field House | SUNY Potsdam
Records: Hilbert 5-5, Potsdam 2-6, NVUJ 2-6
HOW IT HAPPENED - SUNY Potsdam
The entire match was intense with Hilbert pulling a 16-14 5th set win.
Hilbert scored 70 points, recording 57 kills, nine service aces and four blocks. The Hawk also added 52 assists, and 111 digs, and all those statistics are season-high numbers.
- Maria Spinelli, Michaela Rice and Katie Kociszewski were blistering at the net. Spinelli led with 16 kills (.297), Rice recorded 14 kills and 19 digs while Kociszewski added 10 kills and three block assists.
- Natalie Ruhlmann established her Hilbert record of 31 digs, Jessee Jonathan finished with 22 digs, four service aces and 48 assists (personal records) and Kara Valvo added 14 digs
- The opening set, which Hilbert won 25-21, showcased an even score ten times by the time it hit 20-20 on the score board. Hilbert earned four of their final points off kills to take the win.
- Potsdam found their grove and built a six-point lead (11-5) and maintained control even though Hilbert cut the margin to two points (18-16). The Bears were able to stack five points stretching their hold and pulled out the 25-17 victory.
- Again, Potsdam took control early, yet the Hawks, down 10-6, made it a game with a 11-10 lead fueled by two service aces and two kills. The Bears finished their transitions better and hit to the 25-21 win.
- The Hawks opened the fourth fast but were in another tight contest as the set played on. After leading 5-1, Hilbert stayed on top through a 21-19 score. Three points swung Potsdam's way giving them their first lead in the set. The Hawks, down 22-21, rallied with four points off two kills and forced the fifth set.
- With the scored knotted a 7-all, Potsdam forced the bench switch and added another point on after the move. Hilbert then found themselves trailing 13-10, but clawed their way back, getting three gifts from the Bears before scoring two points off kills and putting the dagger in with a service ace for the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED - NVUJ
- Hilbert created a large enough cushion early in the opening set taking a 5-3 lead which was extended to 16-10 and 23-15 for the win.
- The second set was evenly played with neither team finding space to pull away. NVUJ reached 20 points first after breaking a 17-all score. The Badgers, up 24-22, held off the Hawks rally and scored the final two points for the 26-24 win.
- NVUJ appeared in control in the middle set, holding a 23-19 advantage. Hilbert knotted the set a 23 and then rolled to a 27-25 win.
- Down by five early, Hilbert found their rhythm to make it a game again. The Badgers pulled away for the 25-21 victory to force the fifth set.
- NVUJ looked in control, building a 10-5 lead. The momentum shifted to Hilbert as they stacked seven points together – off kills and block assists. With the 12-10 lead now, the Hawks had to battle back to capture the 15-12 match win.
- Jessee Jonathan (33 assists) shared the ball evening up front with six players recording five kills or more for Hilbert. Katie Kociszewski led with eight, while Maria Spinelli and Jazzelle McLean chipped in seven each.
- Four Hawks reached double digit digs, led by Jonathan's 21, followed closely by Natalie Ruhlmann's 20. Jenna Revak added 17 digs and Michaela Rice lifted 13.
UP NEXT
The Hawks (6-5) head to Houghton University for a 7 pm non-conference match September 20th.
