HAMBURG, N.Y. – March 26, 2022 - Hiram men's volleyball picked up two Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) on Saturday afternoon defeating Penn State Altoona in five sets and dropping Hilbert, 3-0.

Match #1: Hiram 3, Penn State Altoona 2

In set one, both teams started fairly even with neither taking too big of a lead. It wasn't until four-straight points from Hiram that consistent points were scored. Up 11-9, the Terriers continued trading points up until the first set was tied at 15.

Down the stretch of the first set, Kilvio Montero and Nathan Cassell picked up a pair of kills tying the match at 19. Penn State Altoona, however, scored five of the final seven points of the set to win 25-22.

A huge six-point run at the start of the second set pushed Hiram ahead in a hurry, up 10-4 after multiple errors from the Lions. The steady lead continued on as the middle of the set approached with Cassell and Tom Supan registering kills holding the lead at 15-10.

As the end of the set approached, the Lions were able to cut the lead, scoring four of five points, making the score 20-18 Hiram. Five of the final seven points went to the Terriers finished off by a Dangelo Boehner kill.

Hiram once again got off to a hot start as the match entered the third set. In a stretch that included two Tom Supan service aces, the Terriers went up 10-5. The healthy lead continued on through the middle of the set with Boehner getting a kill pushing the lead to 16-10. The Terriers cruised to a third set win after two Penn State Altoona errors finished the set for Hiram winning 25-16.

Penn State Altoona went up 5-0 at the beginning of the fourth set. From there, the Lions were able to continue to hold the lead as the set continued. Boehner picked up a kill making the score 12-8, but Altoona answered a few points later going up 16-10.

Hiram kept the fourth set within striking distance, but the lead was just enough for the Lions. Penn State Altoona finished the fourth set securing five of the final six points, winning 25-17.

In the fifth and final set, the Terriers raced out an 8-4 lead after back-to-back kills from Cassell and Montero. Penn State Altoona scored four points in a row, tying the match at 11 as the end of the match got closer. Hiram scored the two final points winning 15-13.

Montero had a big first match with 22 kills and seven digs. Cassell also reached double figures in kills with ten. Andrew Diaz de Padilla had 44 assists. Cassell also added 11 digs.
 
Match #2: Hiram 3, Hilbert 0

Hiram and Hilbert started close, with neither team pulling ahead early. With the Terriers up 8-7, Hiram started to pull away. A kill from Cassell, followed by two Hilbert errors had the visitors up 11-7.

Nearing the end of the first set, Hiram scored four-straight points with a Montero service ace finishing off the scoring. The Terriers won set one by a score of 25-16 finished off by a Supan kill and a Hilbert service ace.

Back-to-back kills from Boehner and Supan gave Hiram a slight 7-4 lead at the start of the second set. The lead continued to hold after Matthew Albano had a service ace and Cassell had a kill making the score 12-8. Two kills from Boehner and one from Supan made the score 18-14 as the end of the second set approached.

Hiram ended the second set dominantly, claiming six of the final eight points with the Hawks closing out the set with an attack error.

Hilbert took a 6-3 at the start of the third set. A few points later, however, Hiram scored four in a row, taking the lead at 12-7 after another Boehner kill. The Hawks struck back, cutting the Terriers lead to 14-12 before a few back-and-forth points. Three straight points for Hiram, finished by a Cassell kill had the visitors sitting in the driver's seat up 19-14. Both teams traded points until the very end of the set, but Hiram won 25-20.

In the second match of the day, Boehner had 15 kills leading the team. Matthew Albano led with 22 assists. Cory Fischer and Tom Supan reached double figures with 13 and ten digs.

With the two wins, Hiram improves to 16-11 on the year and 9-4 in conference play with three regular-season matches remaining.

Hiram next hits the court at Thiel on Wednesday, March 30 with first-serve at 7 p.m. continuing on with conference play.