HAMBURG, N.Y. -- The Mount Aloysius men's volleyball team secured their fourth consecutive win with a 3-1 defeat of conference opponent Hilbert College (8-10, 3-1 AMCC). Senior Matthew Franz (Johnstown, Ohio, Bishop Hartley) would record 17 kills and 4 aces, leading all players in both categories. 

Despite a slow start, falling into an 0-6 hole, the Mounties would battle back in the first set, winning 7 of 8 points down the stretch and evening up proceedings at 20-all. The evenly matched programs would give up no ground to their opposition, leading to fourteen extra points played as set points were earned and saved. Finally, tied at 30-all, Hilbert would blink first, committing a service error to give the visitors their fifth set point. Senior Tayshaun Johnson (Uniondale, N.Y., Uniondale) would make good on the opportunity, killing the final ball of the first to give the Mounties the 1-0 advantage after three saved set points against. 

Reeling from the marathon first set, the second set would slip away from Hilbert as the Mounties maintained a solid .333 hitting percentage, just a .011 drop from their first set hitting. Conversely, Hilbert would see a drop of over .300 from the previous set, struggling as the Mounties put the set away late with a 7-of-9 run, taking the second 25-18. 

The third set would see fatigue hit both teams, with both programs putting together attack efficiencies below .050. Amidst the difficulties, the Mounties were able to carve out a 22-16 lead, but commit four errors en route to a 22-21 scoreline. A Hawk error and Mountie service ace would give the visitors three set points, but errors on the attack combined with an uptick in Hilbert kills would give the hosts the set, 25-27. 

Refocusing and ready to put the match away, the Mounties would come out firing, grabbing a commanding 18-9 lead. A pair of Hilbert blocks seemed to invigorate the hosts, but  pressure on the attack from Franz and senior Andrew Wlodarczyk (East Aurora, N.Y., East Aurora) would prove insurmountable for the Hawks as the Mounties continued plowing ahead. A final service error from the hosts would end proceedings 25-18 in favor of the Mounties.

Men's volleyball continues their conference New York trip tomorrow against the Buffalo State Bengals. Buff State enters the contest 12-13 overall and 2-0 in the AMCC, coming off a 3-1 win over Penn State Altoona.