ELMIRA, N.Y.  –  After dropping the first two sets, Hilbert College came back strong in the third but didn't have enough fire power to put the match away at Elmira College tonight.
 
The Soaring Eagles captured a 3-1 non-conference victory at home.

THE BASICS

• Final Score Elmira 25, 25, 23, 25 | Hilbert 12, 21, 25, 17
• Records:   Hilbert 3-4 | Elmira 6-4

Connor Higgins recorded 10 kills (.273) while Tyler Hassell finished with a .357 attack percent off seven kills.

Michael Pozzuto earned a career-high 17 digs as Austin Chandler was credited with 29 assists.
 
Of Hilbert's 35 team kills, they earned 24 in the second and third set combined.  Elmira finished with 48 kills which limited the Hawks to 40 digs and the Soaring Eagles scored nine points from the service line. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elmira powered their way to an early lead and didn't let up in the opening set, rolling to the 25-11 victory.  The Hawks were able to muster nine kills while the Soaring Eagles had their transitions in synch recording 15 kills as the Hawks finished with only four digs.
• After falling behind by six points in the second set, Hilbert inched their way back into the set.  The Hawks went on a 5-1 run, pulled within one point (14-15) before Elmira went back up by five. Hilbert made it a close score and had their chance to force extra time, but they committed four consecutive service errors down the stretch to lose by four.
• The Hawks found better placement on their attacks, scored points off service aces and made the Soaring Eagles look out of rhythm in the third set. Hilbert built their largest lead (20-18) and made the hosts call their first time of the match.  After Elmira won the longest rally of the night, they knotted the set 23-all.  Connor Higgins plastered a kill, and Nikolas D'Andrea served a quick service ace for the 25-23 win.
• The fourth set was an evenly played game until Elmira went on a 7-3 run to take a 15-10 lead. Hilbert called a timeout after Elmira built a 21-15 lead and Higgins came out firing with a hard kill.  The Soaring Eagles then collected two kills and a block assist as they rallied for the 25-17 win, 

UP NEXT

Hilbert will host SUNY Poly and Trine University this weekend in a tri match in the Hafner Recreation Center.  The Hawks will battle SUNY Poly for the second time this month at 12 pm; the Wildcats will then face Trine at 2 pm and Hilbert closes the day with their match against the Thunder at 4 pm.