SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - January 30, 2025 - Matthew Albano moved three assists away from 2,000 on Thursday evening, as the senior notched 20 assists in a three-set loss to Wittenberg inside Pam Evans Smith Arena: 25-15, 25-18, 25-15.

Albano, who is already the program's all-time leader in assists, assisted on 20 of Hiram's 26 kills in the match. Cullen Sivak led the way with a season-high nine kills, while Jackson Deubner had six kills and Connor Tilton recorded four.

It was a match controlled by the home team, with the Tigers now improving to 6-2 in home matches this season. Michael Yurk led all student-athletes with 12 kills and the setting duo of Gavin Hagerty and Carson Hill combined for 23 assists.

Sivak started and finished strong in the match, posting three kills in the first set and another five kills in the third set. Hiram also held the Tigers to their lowest hitting percentage of the match in that decisive set despite the loss.

For Albano, the 2,000-assist milestone would come on the heels of a 971-kill season in 2024, which marked the most assists in a single season in program history, while also propelling his team to an NCAA Tournament berth for the second time.

Albano will look to reach that landmark and help his team to victory next week, when the team visits Mount Vernon Nazarene on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Mount Vernon, OH.