HAMBURG, N.Y.  – Hilbert Women's Volleyball played three tight games tonight but suffered a straight set loss to Houghton University in the Hafner Recreation Center.
 
The Hawks and Highlanders endured several long and exciting rallies, but in the end, the purple and black picked up their first win of season from the service line.
 
THE BASICS

Final score:  Houghton 25, 25, 25  |  Hilbert 15, 22, 18
Location: Hafner Recreation Center | Hamburg
Records: Hilbert 2-2, Houghton 1-3

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Houghton jumped in front early and maintained a double-digit lead after reaching 20 points in the opening set.
• The Hawks found their legs in the second set, built a nice cushion (18-14) but the Highlanders scored six unanswered points to lead 20-18 and held on for the 25-22 win.
• Hilbert held an 18-17 lead in the third set, then things didn't go their way after that.  The Highlanders earned back-to-back kills, thee consecutive points off Hilbert attack errors and scored three points from the service line for the match win.

The Hawks recorded 25 kills, led the Michaela Rice's seven (.333).  Rice and Katie Kociszewski both earned seven points, with Kociszewski's numbers from kills (4), service acs (2) and block solo (1).  Jessee Jonathan added 15 assists and Natalie Ruhlmann and Michaela Rice each earned double figure digs, 12 and 10 respectively.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks stay in Hamburg for their next date of competition.  Hilbert welcomes SUNY Potsdam and La Roche University for a tri-match this Saturday, September 9th in the Hafner Recreation Center, beginning at 12 noon.