The 16th-ranked Hobart volleyball team will begin its six-match homestand with three matches in Bristol Gymnasium this week. The Statesmen will host No. 7 St. John Fisher Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. to continue United Volleyball Conference play. Hobart will then host No. 3 Southern Virginia and Buffalo State on Friday, March 1, in nonconference action. Game times are set for 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.

Fans who can't make it to Bristol Gym can follow the action with HWS All-Access Video and Live Stats.

ABOUT THE STATESMEN

• Hobart (11-5, 0-1) is coming off a 1-1 weekend after defeating Bard 3-1 and falling to then No. 10 Vassar 3-1. The Statesmen are ranked No. 16 in the AVCA national poll.
• Graduate student Andrew Kim leads the nation in kills per set (5.80) and points per set (6.54). In Friday's win over the Raptors, Kim exploded for 21 kills on 27 swings, hitting a season-high .741.
• First-years Daniel Sappia (3.56 k/s) and Aiden Kemora (2.09 k/s) have made an impact on the pins in their rookie seasons. Sappia ranks fifth in the UVC in kills per set.
• Hobart's offense is run by first-year Zack Farren, who averages a league-leading 10.20 assists per set. He ranks fourth in the nation in that category.
• Kim and Sappia have combined for 44 service aces this season. Kim (.44) ranks fifth in the UVC while Sappia (.41) is eighth.
• First-year libero Gavin Meador leads the Statesmen's scrappy defensive efforts. He ranks fourth in the conference with 2.51 digs per set.
• Classmates Nate Magni (33) and Grayson Getz (26) show a threat at the net and have combined for 59 blocks.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS

• St. John Fisher (17-1, 0-0) is coming off a 3-0 win over SUNY Poly on Saturday and is ranked No. 7 in the AVCA national poll.
• Jake Baker leads the team in kills per set (3.08) and points per set (3.71). Both of which rank eighth in the conference.
• Gavin Newman runs the Cardinals offense from the setter position. He averages 9.34 assists per set which ranks fourth in the UVC and 19th in the nation.
• Newman is third in the nation in service aces with .95 per set.
• Fisher's defense is led by Trace La Robardiere who averages 2.59 digs per set (3rd in UVC). He is helped by strong blocking from Ian Rush (48 blocks, 3rd in UVC) and Griffin Stella (45 blocks, 7th in UVC).

ABOUT THE KNIGHTS

• Southern Virginia (14-0, 3-0) is ranked No. 3 in the AVCA national poll and will take on No. 13 Nazareth on Thursday before heading to Geneva. The Knights have yet to drop a set this season.
• Christian Sheaffer leads the team in kills per set (4.66) and points per set (5.91). He ranks fourth in the nation in points per set and fifth in kills per set.
• Tyler Sheaffer leads the Knights from the setter position. His 10.03 assists per set ranks fifth in the nation.
• Kristo Bianchin leads the nation in blocks, averaging 1.38 per set. He is backed up defensively by Justin Madsen who averaged 2.53 digs per set.

ABOUT THE BENGALS

• Buffalo State is 8-8 in its inaugural season and will play Thiel College on Wednesday before heading to Geneva.
• Jake Woelfel leads the Bengals in kills and points, averaging 3.17 and 3.83, respectively.
• Jackson Stang is 27th in the nation in assists, averaging 8.89 per set.
• Alex Nuez leads Buffalo State's defense, averaging 2.09 digs per set. Kaden Strong has tallied 46 blocks for the Bengals.