BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Hilbert College volleyball team opened their first North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) cross-over weekend on a good foot.  The Hawks claimed a 3-1 victory over Wells College but closed day one with a 3-0 loss to Keuka College.

Hilbert finished the Wells match with a .269 attack percentage earning 51 kills in 119 attempts.   They warmed-up with a 25-21 opening set victory and then posted their most impressive hitting this season in the second set.  The Hawks finished with 12 kills with one error for .458% in the 25-16 win.

Wells rebounded for a 25-22 third set win and the Hawks ended the match with a mirror image of the first set 25-21.

Tanner Makowski was on fire.  He collected 12 kills in 14 attempts (.857) to earn career best marks.  Michael Podgorny and Tyler Sieczkarek each posted double-digit kills, 12 and 11 respectively. 

Brett Kane led the defensive effort with eight digs and Adam Heftka assisted on 44 of the team's 51 kills.

Heftka and Trevor Gabamonte also were credited with a pair of service aces as the Hawks earned seven in the match.

In the nightcap against Keuka, the Hawks suffered a 25-17 first set loss but after that they rebounded in the following two sets (25-23, 25-21).

Keuka finished with just eight more kills than the Hawks (38-30) but their hitting percentage (.263 vs .099) contributed to their victory.

Podgorny led with nine kills and Schwab chipped in eight in the defeat.  Schwab led with 10 digs and the only Hawk to reach double-digit digs this afternoon. Heftka notched 23 assists.

The 5-5 Hawks (2-1 NEAC) travel back to North Buffalo Sunday for their 10am game against SUNY Poly in the Sullivan Center on Medaille's campus.  Don't forget you can watch games live (fee) or follow live stats if you can't make the drive.