GENEVA, N.Y.—The 16th-ranked Hobart volleyball team and No.7 St. John Fisher battled in a five-set thriller this evening in Bristol Gymnasium as the Cardinals grabbed a 3-2 conference win over the Statesmen. Hobart falls to 11-6 on the season and 0-2 in the UVC, while Fisher moves to 18-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Graduate student Andrew Kim had a dominant performance for the Statesmen, putting down 30 kills, hitting .333 through five sets. Kim added nine digs, three assists, two aces and two blocks in the loss. First-year Daniel Sappia chipped in 15 kills (.100), eight digs, two assists, two solo blocks and one service ace for Hobart.

Jake Baker led the Cardinals with 10 kills (.028), nine digs, three blocks and three service aces. Ian Rauh and Casey Jackson chipped in nine kills each for Fisher.
  
MATCH MOMENTS:

• Set one set the tone for the match, as both teams traded points and the lead. Hobart and Fisher tallied eight tie scores and four lead changes sparked a thrilling five-set match. Kim tallied seven kills (.700) in the first to lead the Statesmen to a 25-23 win in set one.
• The Cardinals fought back in the second, grabbing the early momentum and never looking back. St. John Fisher hit .318 as a team with nine kills compared to Hobart's .069 hitting percentage and nine kills. The Cardinals clean play propelled them to a 25-18 win in the second to tie the match at 1-1.
• The Statesmen produced its most efficient set in the third, hitting .333 as a team with a 71% side out percentage. Hobart held Fisher to a .087 hitting percentage as Kim exploded for 10 kills (.562) in the third. The Statesmen grabbed the lead back with a 25-20 win in set three.
• In a must-win set for the visitors, the Cardinals responded with 12 kills (.423) and only one error as a team. Hobart tallied 14 kills (.205) but produced six errors as the teams fought back-and-forth in the decisive set. After eight tie scores and six lead changes, Fisher forced a fifth set with a 25-18 win in set four.
• The fifth set was filled with action packed rallies and big plays by both sides. The Cardinals produced an 83% side out percentage compared to Hobart's 64%. The Statesmen compiled six errors compared to Fisher's three which proved to be the difference maker. St. John Fisher came from behind to finish the set on top 15-11 and the match 3-2.

MATCH STATS:

• Kim led the Statesmen with 30 kills (.343), while Sappia added 15 (.100). First-year Aiden Kemora chipped in eight (.034) in five sets.
• First-year setter Zack Farren tallied 44 assists. He added six digs, one ace and one kill in the match.
• First-year libero Gavin Meador led Hobart's defensive efforts with 15 digs. Kim chipped in nine while Sappia recorded eight.
• Hobart combined for eight blocks as a team compared to Fisher's 11. First-year Nate Magni led the Statesmen with five block assists, while Kemora added three. Sappia had two big solo blocks for Hobart.

UP NEXT:
 
Hobart will be back in action Friday, March 1, when it welcomes No. 3 Southern Virginia and Buffalo State to Bristol Gymnasium for two nonconference matches. First serve between the Statesmen and the Knights is set for 1 p.m., while the matchup with the Bengals is set for 5 p.m.