BUFFALO, N.Y. – For the second match in a row, Hilbert College competed against a new up-and-coming men's volleyball opponent. The Hawks were a step slow at the start of the match but found their confidence in the later sets before falling 3-0 to Buffalo State University in the Sports Arena.
Hilbert (3-3) had to hit around blockers all night while the Bengals (5-3) powered their way early in the opening set except they had to fight to hold on for the win with 25-14, 25-20, 26-24 set scores.
Alex Overhoff did a little of everything, reaching double digit kills – 10 – with a .474 attack percent while adding one assist, one service ace and four digs.
Brad Converse chipped in seven kills, one block assist and three digs while
Nikolas D'Andrea recorded both solo blocks for the Hawks.
Austin Chandler dished 22 assists and posted two skip-set kills while running the offense.
The Hawks recorded nine kills in the opening set, split between Overhoff (3),
Tyler Hassell (2) and Chandler (2), but they gave away four points off service errors. Buffalo State played loose and stacked points while the Hawks strung two points together only once, at the end of the 25-12 loss.
Hilbert built an early 8-5 lead in the second set earning three of their points while being gifted the other five. Both teams traded serves before the Bengals opened up a 20-15 advantage. Converse and
Connor Higgins scored kills prior to Buffalo State committing two errors which set the 22-18 score. Hilbert continued to battle, scoring two more kills, but they ran out of time when the hosts hit a 25-20 win.
Buffalo State came out on fire in the third set, recording five kills and two service aces as they opened a 9-3 lead. The Hawks pulled it back to four points on multiple occasions before they used a five-point run to even the score at 19-all. Converse and Overhoff then combined for four of the team's final five points, building a 24-21 lead, but Buffalo State rallied back for the 26-24 win, scoring three kills and a game winning block assist.
The Hawks hit the road this Thursday when they travel to Elmira College February 8th for a 7pm match.
