The 15th-ranked Hobart volleyball team returns home after an eight-match road trip for a crucial conference matchup with No. 7 Vassar on Saturday, March 8. Action between the Statesmen and the Brewers is set for noon in Bristol Gymnasium.

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

ABOUT THE STATESMEN:

• Hobart dropped four spots and is ranked No. 15 in this week's AVCA national poll. It is the eighth straight week the Statesmen have been in the poll this season.
• The Statesmen enter the weekend with a 17-5 overall record (0-3 UVC) after falling to New Paltz and No. 1 NYU last weekend.
• Graduate student Andrew Kim leads the UVC and is third in the nation in kills per set (4.61) and points per set (5.45). His .366 hitting percentage ranks 28th nationally and fifth in the conference.
• Sophomores Noah DeLong and Daniel Sappia add 2.25 and 2.22 kills per set, respectively. The duo has added a combined 41 blocks and 35 service aces this season.
• Sophomore Zack Farren and graduate student Benjamin Lincoln have led Hobart from the setter position, averaging 5.50 and 4.92 assists per set, respectively. Farren ranks eighth in the UVC in that category.
• Defensively, the Statesmen are led by sophomore libero Gavin Meador who averages a league-leading 3.07 digs per set which ranks 11th nationally. Kim chips in 2.08 digs per set.
• First-year Alain Malcolm leads Hobart at the net, averaging 0.82 blocks per set which ranks sixth in the conference.

ABOUT THE BREWERS:

• Vassar enters the weekend ranked No. 7 in the AVCA poll.
• The Brewers are 14-1 on the season (3-0 UVC) and are coming off a 3-2 win over No. 13 St. John Fisher Saturday. Vassar will take on Elmira Friday in a UVC matchup before coming to Geneva Saturday.
• Walter Birnbaum leads the Brewers offensively, averaging 3.08 kills per set which ranks seventh in the conference. Gavin Akoto ranks fourth in the UVC and 19th nationally with a .403 hitting percentage.
• Parker Schoenl and Payne Lounsbery lead Vassar from the setter position, averaging 4.68 and 4.22 assists per set, respectively.
• Defensively, the Brewers are led by Tucker Shearn who averages 2.36 digs per set which ranks second in the conference. Armaan Desai leads the UVC in blocks per set (1.08) and ranks 10th nationally. Akoto chips in 0.83 blocks per set, which ranks fifth in the conference.

SERIES HISTORY:

• Vassar holds a 1-0 edge in the series over Hobart after defeating the Statesmen 3-1 last season on Feb. 24, 2024, in Poughkeepsie.
• Sappia led Hobart with 19 kills (.308) and 11 digs in the loss. Kim chipped in 18 kills (.182) and seven digs, while sophomore Aiden Kemora added 10 kills (.391) and 12 digs through four sets. Farren tallied a match-high 45 assists.