ERIE, Pa. – Ten points separated Hilbert College from Penn State Behrend and Siena Heights College this afternoon in men's volleyball. 

The Hawks suffered a pair of set-backs when they slipped in four to the Lions (25-22, 25-18, 15, 25, 25-23) and were shut-out against the Saints (25-21, 25-23, 25-23).

Hilbert fell to 9-13 overall and are still searching for their 10th win which will set a new program season win-record.

Senior Korey Schwab led the Hawks with 3.86 kills and 2.71 digs per set.  Freshman Michael Podgorny followed closely behind with 3.71 kills and 2.43 digs per set as both hitters averaged 4.0 points per set.

Sophomore Brett Kane moved around for 3.14 digs per set and junior Adam Heftka paced the day with 9.57 assists per set.  

The Hawks earned 12.00 kills per set and 11.43 assists per set just a hair off from their opponents who averaged 12.47 kills and 11.29 assists.  With the point separation so close, Behrend and Siena Heights' defensive coverage above the net was the difference maker.  Hilbert earned 8.5 total blocks while both opponents combined for 21 total blocks which lowered Hilbert's attack percentage to .137.  

In the 2pm game against the hosts, Hilbert jumped ahead early and held a 6-4 lead before the Lions went on a 5-1 run and held a 9-7 lead.  Hilbert forced a 10-10 tie but Behrend scored three kills to take a four point lead and reached 25 first.

After the 17-17 score in the second set, Behrend put together a pair of kills and back-to-back service aces to build a 23-17 advantage that they rode to 25 points.

Tanner Makowski earned five kills in the third set as his effort helped lift the Hawks early.  They maintained their lead the entire match and made off with a 25-15 win.

Behrend held a 13-3 lead in the fourth set before the Hawks strung together five straight points to cut the score to 13-8.  The Lions stretched ahead to 17-10 but that wasn't it for Hilbert.  Schwab collected two kills, Podgorny earned an ace and a block assist by Tyler Sieczkarek and K Schwab brought the Hawks back within one point (17-16).

Each team traded serves, until back-to-back points for Behrend set the score at 21-19.  The Lions held on for a two-point victory.

K Schwab finished with 16 kills and 13 digs.  Podgorny added 15 kills and nine digs.  Hefkta picked-up 42 assists and Makowski reached for nine kills on the match.  Ryan Schwab posted 10 digs and Siekczkarek (seven kills) and Kane each added eight digs.

Against the NAIA Saints, the Hawks found themselves in a big hole early. After trailing 9-3, Hilbert inched back until the score was 17-12 in favor of Siena Heights.  Makowski tossed a kill then assisted on two blocks with Heftka in addition to a pair of Podgorny kills to pull ahead 18-17.  Hilbert traded two service errors with the Saints' one error and found themselves tied 19-19.  A Siena Heights block paired with a Hilbert hitting error gave the visitors from Adrian, MI a two-point advantage that they held until the final.

Similarly to the first game, Siena Heights jumped out on two occasions to build their largest lead of 17-8.  Seven straight Hilbert points cut the difference to one (19-18).  Hilbert took their first lead 21-20 and K Schwab tacked another kill on to give the Hawks a two-point advantage.   The Saints responded at 22-22, and after Podgorny gave Hilbert a 23-22 push, the out-of-towners closed the game with back-to-back blocks for 25-23 win.

In the third set, Hilbert was the aggressor and held a lead through the game's first 35 points.  Hilbert was up 18-15 before the Saints knotted the score.  Hilbert continued to lead and jump out by one point through 23-23 scores.  A Siena Heights' block and follow-up kill gave them the set (25-23) and the match victory.

K Schwab scored 11 points on kills as did Podgorny, but Schwab posted only two hitting errors in 33 attempts (.273).  Kane collected 14 digs and Heftka assisted on 25 kills while credited with 4 block assists.

The Hawks return to Hamburg Monday, March 21 when they host Loras College (Iowa) who is traveling through the area on their spring break.  The first serve is set for 7pm.