GENEVA, N.Y. –For the second-straight match, the Hobart volleyball team defeated a nationally ranked opponent. This time, the Statesmen took down No. 8 New Paltz in a thrilling five-set match to secure a crucial conference win. With the win, Hobart improves to 13-11 on the season with a 5-1 mark in conference play, while the Hawks fall to 20-6 overall and 5-1 in the Liberty League.

The thrilling conference matchup saw both sides put up impressive numbers. Hobart put down 55 kills (,204) compared to New Paltz's 37 kills (.054). The Statesmen held a 52-37 advantage in assists and a 50-46 edge in digs in the win. Hobart served up six aces compared to the Hawks' four and also held a 14-8 advantage in blocks in the crucial conference win.

Junior Aiden Kemora led the Statesmen with 18 kills (.262) in the win. Kemora added six digs, two blocks and one assist as well. Classmate Daniel Sappia chipped in 13 kills (.212), seven digs, three blocks, three assists and one ace, while junior Noah DeLong added eight kills (.036), four blocks, three digs and three assists. Sophomore Alain Malcolm (.750) and first-year Nicholas Humphries (.211) recorded seven kills each in the win and combined for 11 blocks, three digs and one assist in the win. Defensively, Hobart was led by junior libero Gavin Meador's career-high 23 digs.

New Paltz was led by Matt Teplansky's nine kills (.135), six digs, two blocks and one service ace. Niko Tenedorio added nine kills (.042) as well and chipped in seven digs, two assists and two blocks in the loss. Matt Marusza tallied a team-high 29 assists in the loss and added six digs, one block and one ace.

MATCH MOMENTS:

• Hobart came out hot in the opening set, combining for seven kills (.357) as a team, while holding New Paltz to a match-low six kills (-.167). Sophomore Kian Kischke set the tone early, serving up four-straight aces to shoot the Statesmen out to an early lead. Hobart never looked back as it closed out set one on top, 25-12.
• New Paltz responded well in the second set but was matched by a match-high 15 kill (.048) performance by the Statesmen. The Hawks stepped up defensively and forced Hobart to 13 hitting errors in the second set, slipping away with a 25-22 win in set two despite a late comeback by Hobart.
• The Hawks continued on their momentum into the third set, putting down 10 kills (.160) compared to Hobart's 14 (.194). The back-and-forth third set saw 13 tie scores and four lead changes, but New Paltz grabbed the late momentum and used back-to-back Statesmen hitting errors to close out set three on top, 25-21.
• Hobart responded with a dominant performance in the must-win fourth set as it combined for 12 kills (.346), while holding New Paltz to just eight kills (.000). Kemora led the Statesmen with six kills on 11 swings in the fourth set, helping Hobart secure a 25-16 win in set four, forcing a decisive fifth set.
• After trading the early points, Hobart went on a 3-0 run to grab the momentum of the fifth set. The Statesmen combined for eight kills (.316), while the Hawks put down seven kills (.200) in the final set. Two kills by Kemora and a New Paltz hitting error would close out the conference battle in favor of the Statesmen, 15-10.

MATCH STATS:

• Kemora led the Statesmen with 18 kills (.262), while Sappia chipped in 13 (.212) in the win. DeLong put down eight kills (.036), while Malcolm (.750) and Humphries (.211) chipped in seven kills each. Kischke chipped in two kills (.000) out of the middle for Hobart.
• Junior Zack Farren and first-year Tor Boughal led Hobart from the setter position, tallying 21 and 20 assists each, respectively. The duo combined for five digs and one service ace against the Hawks.
• Hobart combined for 50 digs as a team and was led by Meador's career-high 23. Sappia added seven, while Kemora chipped in six. Farren tallied four digs, while DeLong and Kischke added three digs each.
• The Statesmen combined for six service aces as a team and were led by Kischke with four. Sappia and Farren added one service ace each in the win.
• The Purple and Orange impressed at the net, combining for 14 blocks as a team. Malcolm led the way with seven blocks, while Kishke added six. DeLong chipped in four blocks for Hobart.

COACHES CORNER:
 
"Tonight's match was an amazing test of discipline for us," said Head Coach Steve England. "New Paltz is a strong team and pushed us to play our best volleyball. Everyone was on the same page, and we executed the game plan. We are looking forward to our next test tomorrow against NYU. Go Hobart!"
  
UP NEXT:
 
Hobart will be back in action tomorrow as it closes out UVC regular season play against No. 7 NYU. First serve between the Statesmen and the Violets is set for 2 p.m. in Bristol Gym.