Semi-final box score
BUFFALO, NY – Playing their last game of the 2012 season without two starters, the Hilbert College men’s volleyball team played to a 3-0 loss to the number one seeded Medaille College, in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference semi-final game March 31. Sophomore Adam Weaver led with 13 kills, 8 digs and 3 solo blocks as the Hawks closed out their season with a 6-21 overall record.
Fred Sickau finished the match with five kills (.308), four digs and four assisted blocks and Ryan Ratajczak moved from libero to setter and set 17 assists and five digs in the loss. Scott Ross (wrist) and Stephen Phillips (ankle), two starters missing due to injury, were key components for Hilbert and hard to replace in the Hawks’ offense. Anthony Blasz knocked down two kills and assisted in one block at the net and Andrew Duncan earned one kill and one solo block in his three sets.
Hilbert, D’Youville, Penn State Behrend and Medaille (all current AMCC member institutions) are members in the United Volleyball Conference, a twelve member, single sport conference whose play-off champion receives an automatic bid to the inaugural National Division III men’s volleyball championship this spring.
Because there are four AMCC members who sponsor men’s volleyball, the AMCC hosted the first ever men’s volleyball championship tournament. Medaille, ranked 9th nationally in NCAA Division III, defeated Hilbert in three sets (25-11, 25-19, 25-17) before they swept D’Youville (a five-set winner over Penn State Behrend) to earn the AMCC’s first men’s volleyball championship.
Medaille (#3 seed UVC) and Penn State Behrend (#8 seed UVC) continue their post season aspirations, competing in the UVC tournament April 14-15 at the number-one seeded New York University (11-0) campus.