The 11th-ranked Hobart volleyball team is back in action tomorrow, Feb 25, as it heads to Rochester, New York, to open UVC play against Nazareth. Conference action between the Statesmen and the Golden Flyers is set for 8 p.m. in Kidera Gymnasium.

Fans who can't make it to Rochester can follow along with live stats and video courtesy of nazathletics.com

Additionally, first-year Alain Malcolm was named the United Volleyball Conference's Rookie of the Week after leading Hobart to a 2-0 weekend at the Bengal Invite. Through two matches, Malcolm averaged 1.43 kills per set, 0.57 blocks per set and 1.86 points per set. He tallied a career-high seven kills (.429), three blocks and three digs against Penn State Behrend before adding three kills (.333), one block and an assist against Buffalo State later that day.

ABOUT THE STATESMEN:

• Hobart is ranked 11th in this week's AVCA national poll, marking the seventh straight week in the poll.
• The Statesmen enter the week with a 17-2 overall record after beating the Lions and the Bengals last weekend.
• Graduate student Andrew Kim leads the UVC and is first in the nation for points per set (5.73). He leads the UVC and is second in the nation in kills per set (4.81) and is fourth in the UVC in hitting percentage (.411).
• Sophomores Daniel Sappia and Noah DeLong have continued to impress, both averaging 2.21 kills per set. Sappia had a season-high 16 kills and 18.5 points against Penn St. Behrend, while DeLong contributed a season-high seven digs in the win. The duo has combined for 35 blocks and 34 service aces this season.
• Sophomore Zack Farren and graduate student Benjamin Lincoln lead the Statesmen from the setter position, averaging 5.67 and 4.56 assists per set, respectively. Lincoln had a career-high 36 assists against the Lions on Saturday. Farren ranks seventh in the UVC in assists per set.
• Defensively, sophomore libero Gavin Meador leads the Statesmen with a league-leading 3.28 digs per set. He ranks 14th in the nation in that category.
• Malcolm and first-year Josh Reilly have combined for 61 blocks in their rookie season. Malcolm ranks fifth in the conference, averaging 0.79 blocks per set.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN FLYERS:

• Nazareth enters the week with a 9-7 overall record and are coming off a five-set loss to Buffalo State and a 3-0 win over Penn State Behrend on Saturday.
• The Golden Flyers are receiving votes in the AVCA national poll for the third straight week.
• Owen Wickens leads Nazareth offensively, averaging 3.67 kills per set which ranks fourth in the UVC. He is followed by Josh Weaver with 2.56 kills per set.
• AJ Burda averages a team-leading 7.11 assists per set which ranks sixth in the conference.
• Defensively, the Golden Flyers are led by Wickens with 2.23 digs per set. Jake O'Sullivan chips in a team-leading 0.76 blocks per set.
• Wickens ranks third in the UVC in points per set, averaging 4.50.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Hobart holds a 1-0 edge in the series against Nazareth, defeating the Golden Flyers in its only previous meeting.
• The Statesmen defeated the Golden Flyers 3-0 on March 6, 2024, in Geneva.
• Kim led Hobart with 18 kills, hitting .708 in the sweep. He added four digs, three blocks and two aces for the Statesmen. Farren tallied a match-high 40 assists in the win.