HIRAM, Ohio - April 3, 2021 – Hiram College men's volleyball swept the Hilbert College Hawks, 3-0, on Saturday on Senior Day at Price Gymnasium to clinch their first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) regular season title in program history.
 
With the win, the Terriers will be the No. 1 seed in the AMCC Men's Volleyball Conference Tournament beginning on Wednesday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m.
 
The Terriers got off to a hot start, winning the first two points of the match on Jake Lininger's ace and a kill from Cole Filer. After a bit of back-and-forth play, Hiram pulled away on Andrew Gard's serve, extending their lead to 24-5 before giving the service back to Hilbert.
 
A service error made it 24-6, before another service error gave Hiram the opening set, 25-6, and a 1-0 match lead.
 
Hiram picked up right where they left off in the first set, scoring the first seven points of the second set. After a Hawk kill, a bad set gave the Terriers the serve back, and Hiram reeled off 10 of the next 12 points to take a 19-3 lead, before eventually taking the second set, 25-5.
 
Lininger started the Terriers' serve in the third set and reeled off 17-straight points before Hilbert got on the scoreboard. A Hawk kill and attack error made it 17-2, before Hiram finished off the set with an 8-4 run to take home a 3-0 victory and clinch the regular season championship.
 
Seniors led the Terriers in every category, as Filer and Grant Phelan led the Terriers each with 10 kills, Lininger led the Terriers with 29 assists and Justin English led Hiram with 11 digs.
 
With the win, the Terriers wrap up AMCC conference play undefeated with an 8-1 (7-0 AMCC) overall record, while Hilbert (N.Y.) falls to 0-8 (0-7 AMCC).
 
The Terriers will host either Penn St. Altoona or Penn St. Behrend on Wednesday, April 7 in the semifinal round of the AMCC Men's Volleyball Conference Tournament at 7:00 p.m. in Price Gymnasium.