GENEVA, N.Y.—The 14th-ranked Hobart volleyball team defeated SUNY New Paltz 3-1 this afternoon in a crucial United Volleyball Conference matchup in Bristol Gymnasium. The Statesmen improve to 14-7 overall and move to 2-2 in conference play while the Hawks fall to 14-9 overall with an 0-2 mark in UVC play.

Hobart put on an impressive performance against New Paltz and led the Hawks in several categories. The Statesmen put down 49 kills (.362) as a team compared to the Hawks 38 (.182). Hobart combined for 38 digs compared to New Paltz's 27, while also serving six aces to the Hawks' five.

Graduate student Andrew Kim led the Statesmen with 20 kills on an impressive .514 hitting percentage. He added 10 digs for his second double-double of the season. Kim also chipped in two service aces and one block. First-year Daniel Sappia recorded 16 kills (.444) for the Statesmen, while classmate Aiden Kemora added 11 (.240). Sappia and Kemora tallied six digs, one solo block and one service ace each in the win.

Pat Wing led New Paltz with 17 kills (.333) and six digs. He chipped in one assist and one solo block in the loss. Matt Marusza chipped in 27 assists, seven digs, three kills and one block for the Hawks.

MATCH MOMENTS:

• The first set saw back-and-forth action between Hobart and New Paltz and had 14 tie scores as well as three lead changes. The Statesmen combined for 13 kills (.240) compared to the Hawks' seven (.000) to sneak away with a 25-23 win in set one.
• New Paltz fired back in the second, putting down 12 kills (.409) as a team with an 84% side out percentage. Despite seven kills from Kim (.385), the Hawks found a balanced attack to tie the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 win in set two.
• Hobart responded well in the third and combined for 14 kills (.458) as a team compared to New Paltz's seven (.136). Kim (.600) and Sappia (.833) combined for 11 kills to lead the Statesmen to a dominating 25-15 win in the third.
• In a must-win set for the Hawks, New Paltz responded with 12 kills (.182) as a team in hopes of forcing a fifth set. The Statesmen had different plans, putting down 11 kills (.458) as a team with zero hitting errors. Hobart's match-high 81% side out percentage and Sappia's six kills (.600) led the Statesmen to a 25-15 win in set four to close out the match out on top 3-1.

MATCH STATS:

• Kim led Hobart with 20 kills (.514), while Sappia added 16 (.444). Kemora chipped in 11 (.240) in the win.
• First-year setter Zack Farren recorded a match-high 43 assists. He also added one dig for the Statesmen.
• Hobart played a scrappy defensive game and combined for 38 digs as a team. Kim led the Statesmen with 10, while Kemora and Sappia chipped in six each. First-year Nate Magni added five digs in the conference win.
• The Statesmen impressed from the service line, combining for six aces as a team. Kim led the way with two, while first-years Grayson Getz, Noah DeLong, Kemora and Sappia all chipped in one each.

COACHES CORNER:

"We had a great team win today against a very good New Paltz program," said Head Coach Steve England. "Notching our second UVC win in a row is a huge accomplishment. I am fired up about how we responded after the second set loss. It shows that we have developed some grit. We only have a short time to enjoy this win with a tough NYU team coming to town tomorrow."

UP NEXT:
 
Hobart will be back in action tomorrow when it welcomes No. 13 New York University to Bristol Gymnasium for a UVC matchup. First serve between the Statesmen and the Violets is set for 1 p.m.