POTSDAM, N.Y.—The Hobart College volleyball team cruised to a 3-1 victory over Wells College this afternoon to conclude its season opening weekend. The Statesmen move to 2-1 on the season while the Express fall to 0-3.

First-year Daniel Sappia led Hobart with 17 kills, hitting .238 through three sets. He added four digs, two blocks, two assists and one service ace in the win. Classmate Anthony Zontini chipped in a career-high 14 kills (.156), six digs, one ace, one block and one assist in the win.
  
MATCH MOMENTS:

• Wells opened up the afternoon on top, forcing an early Hobart timeout as the Statesmen trailed 10-6. The two sides traded points until the Statesmen grabbed a late lead thanks to two kills from Zontini. Out of the Express timeout, Wells went on a 5-0 run to steal the first set 25-23.
• Hobart responded well in the second, putting down 12 kills (.269) while keeping Wells to a -.040 hitting percentage. The Statesmen grabbed an early lead that was ectended by a service ace by senior Dima Piskun. Hobart didn't look back as Zontini put down several big kills down the stretch to give the Statesmen a 25-18 win in set two to tie the game at 1-1.
• The two sides traded points in the third until a 3-0 run by Hobart would give the Statesmen a 16-14 lead forcing an Express timeout. Hobart continued to extend its lead as first-year Nathan Deller combined with Sappia and first-year Noah DeLong for back-to-back stuff blocks. Zontini closed out the set with a kill to give the Statesmen a 25-19 win in set three.
• Sappia caught the hot hand in the fourth, putting down eight of Hobart's 12 kills in the final set. He pushed the Statesmen to a comfortable 12-point lead before Wells responded with a 9-2 run to bring the Express within six. An attack error by Wells would hand Hobart a 25-18 win in set four to close out the match at 3-1 in favor of the Statesmen.

MATCH STATS:

• Sappia led Hobart with a career-high 17 kills (.238) while Zontini added 14 (.156), which was also a career high. First-year Grayson Getz added four kills, hitting an impressive .429 out of the middle.
• First-year setter Noah DeLong ran the Statesmen offense for the first three sets, recording 26 assists, nine digs, three kills, two blocks and one service ace. First-year Zack Farren set in the fourth, recording 11 assists and one kill.
• Hobart showed strong from the service line, serving up nine aces compared to Wells' four. Piskun and Getz led the team with three each.
• First-year libero Gavin Meador led the Statesmen with 12 digs while DeLong added nine. Getz and Zontini chipped in six each.

COACHES CORNER:

"We took the opportunity today to develop our young team," said Head Coach Steve England. "After a slow start we began to find our confidence. I am happy with the way we finished the match and am looking forward to our home-opener next Friday."

UP NEXT:
 
The Statesmen will be back in action Friday, Jan. 19, when they host their first home match in program history. Hobart will host Penn-State Behrend, St. Norbert, Carlow, and Kean through two days in the 2024 Hobart Tournament starting with a matchup with the Lions on Friday at 3 p.m.