HAMBURG, N.Y.  –  Hilbert College Men's Volleyball took crosstown rival Buffalo State University to a 4-set emotionally charged match tonight.
 
The Hawks, playing in front of their largest crowd of the season, came back to win the third set and battled to a 17-15 lead midway through the fourth set before the Bengals strung together nine unanswered points to pull out the match victory, 3-1.
 
Hilbert, attempting to overpower the ball, gave up 15 points from the service line in defeat.
 
THE BASICS

• Final Score    Buffalo State 25, 25, 20, 25   | Hilbert 20, 18, 25, 18
• Location:  Hafner Recreation Center, Hilbert College
• Records:   Hilbert 4-4 | Buffalo State 6-8

 NEWS and NOTES
 
7 pm vs Buffalo State Bengals 

• Hilbert finished the four-set match recording 49 points off 38 kills (19 errors) and a .148 attack percentage while the Bengals collected 50 kills (23 errors) with a .188 attack performance
• The Hawks recorded seven blocks, four service aces, 35 assists and 47 digs.
• Justin Veal recorded a season-high 11 kills and added three service aces while Tyler Hassell led the Hawks with seven kills (1 error) off a .462 attack
• Jacob Sehn recorded 11 digs and George Muriel chipped in nine digs while dishing 27 assists and three block assists. 
• Mehkai Francis covered the net well earning four block assists and three kills.

Prior to the team introductions, the Men's Volleyball team honored senior Brad Converse for breaking the Hilbert Service Ace record previously held by assistant coach Korey Schwab '15.  Converse eclipsed Schwab in the nightcap game on Sunday against Hood College and sits alone with 89 service aces in his career.

UP NEXT

Hilbert will host their first trimatch this spring when they face Thiel College at 3pm and SUNY Poly at 7pm this Friday.  The Tomcats and Wildcats will square off at 5pm inside the Hafner Recreation Center February 14.