GENEVA, N.Y. –The Hobart volleyball team battled No. 7 New York University to five-sets but ultimately dropped its conference regular season finale in Bristol Gymnasium this afternoon. With the loss, the Statesmen fall to 13-12 overall and 5-2 in conference play, while the Violets improve to 16-5 overall and 3-2 in the UVC.

The conference thriller saw both Hobart and NYU put up impressive numbers. The Statesmen put down 67 kills (.264), while the Violets tallied 66 (.324). Both Hobart and NYU recorded 55 digs as a team, while NYU held a 4-2 edge in service aces. The Violets also held an 11-6 advantage in blocks against the Statesmen.

Junior Aiden Kemora led Hobart with 17 kills (.342) through five sets. He added eight digs, five assists and one block as well in the loss. Classmate Daniel Sappia chipped in 13 kills (.087) four digs, three blocks, one service ace and one assist. Sophomore Kian Kischke added 12 kills (.500) out of the middle and chipped in four digs and two blocks. Junior Noah DeLong recorded 10 kills (.138) in the loss and added eight assists, six digs and one block. Defensively, the Statesmen were led by junior libero Gavin Meador's 16 digs.

NYU was led by Charlie Clifford's 22 kills (.526), nine digs, three blocks and one assist. Emerson Evans added 14 kills (.220), 11 digs, three blocks and one ace, while Jerry Feng chipped in 11 kills (.179), nine digs, one block and one assist. Devyn Nguyen tallied a match-high 55 assists and added eight digs, three blocks, two service aces and one kill in the win.

MATCH MOMENTS:

• NYU set the tone early in the opening set, putting down a match-high 19 kills (.500), while holding Hobart to a match-low eight kills (.179).  The Violets produced an efficient offense and forced the Statesmen out of system early, securing a 25-15 win in set one.
• The Statesmen responded well in the second set, putting down a match-high 18 kills (.263), while holding the Violets to a match-low nine kills (.192). Kemora and Sappia led Hobart with four kills each in the second set as the Statesmen slipped away with a 25-23 win in set two.
• NYU jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third set and never looked back. The Violets maintained the lead the entire set despite a late push by the Statesmen. NYU put down 16 kills (.237) compared to Hobart's 13 (.163) and closed out the third set on top 25-23 thanks to a Statesmen service error.
• Hobart applied the pressure in the must-win fourth set, putting down 18 kills (.438) compared to NYU's 12 (.286). Kemora found the hot hand, firing off six kills in the fourth to lead the Statesmen to a 25-22 win to force a decisive fifth set.
• The Violets went on a 5-0 scoring run to open the fifth and maintained the lead until the final point. NYU combined for 10 kills (.429) in the fifth but was matched by a scrappy Hobart side that also tallied 10 kills (.318) as it fought its way back into the match. A big kill by Evans would close out the conference battle in favor of the Violets, 15-11.

MATCH STATS:

• Kemora led the way with 17 kills (.342), while Sappia chipped in 13 (.087). Kischke tallied 12 kills (.500) out of the middle, while DeLong added 10 (.138). First-year Nicholas Humphries recorded nine kills (.444), while sophomore Alain Malcolm added six (.333) for Hobart.
• Junior Zack Farren and first-year Tor Boughal led the Statesmen from the setter position, recording 28 and 13 assists each, respectively. The duo combined for 11 digs as well in the loss.
• Hobart combined for 55 digs as a team and were led by Meador with 16. Kemora chipped in eight, while Farren added seven. DeLong recorded six digs, while Malcolm chipped in five through five sets.
• The Statesmen combined for six blocks as a team and were led by Sappia and Malcolm with three each. Kischke and Humphries added two each for Hobart.

COACHES CORNER:
 
"Even though we came up short today, we battled every point," said Head Coach Steve England. " Going into the final UVC match of the season with a chance to host is an amazing achievement for our very young program. We have a lot to hold our heads high about. We have two weeks to improve before UVC playoffs. We have a lot of volleyball left to play. Go Hobart!"
  
UP NEXT:
 
Hobart will be back in action Saturday, April 4, as it closes out the regular season with a non-conference matchup with No. 1 Springfield. First serve between the Statesmen and the Pride is set for 1 p.m. in Bristol Gymnasium.