Hamburg, NY – During their second tri-match of the week, the Hawks moved on to Hamburg to face Hilbert and Potsdam. The Hawks fell short to close out their weekend, falling narrowly to both opponents.
THE BASICS
- Final Score: Hilbert 4, Hartwick 1
- Location: Hamburg, NY | Brad Hafner Recretion Center
- Records: Hilbert (3-9, 1-1 AMCC) Hartwick (3-13, 0-0 DIII Independent)
HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 1 vs. Hilbert)
Hartwick opened their first match of the day in a Battle of the Hawks, facing Hilbert in a four-set contest.
Ethan McCaw (Ilion, NY) and
Matt Ramirez (Rome, NY) led the attack with three kills each, combining for more than half of the team kills in the set. Hilbert used an early five-point run to build separation, Hartwick responding with a three-point run of their own. Despite the Blue and White's response, the Hawks were unable to close the gap, falling 25-20.
Anthony Ruggiero (Schenectady, NY) helped turn the Hawks around offensively in the second, notching 5 kills.
Pedro Martins (São Paulo, Brazil) contributed as well, with two kills and an ace to swing the momentum Hartwick's way. Ramirez went on a three-point service run to further the distance, the Hawks capitalizing on their offensive rhythm to close out the set. Their improvement at the net guided them to a 25-20 win, tying the score 1-1 heading into the third.
Following their loss in the second, Hilbert went on another early run, establishing themselves defensively.
Nate Roorbach (East Aurora, NY) dished out 6 assists throughout the set, 5 of the kills credited to Ruggiero. Hilbert held the Blue and White to 16 points, going up another set to head into the fourth and final of the match.
The Hawks stayed competitive in the fourth set, trading points with Hilbert through the early stages. Another five point run from the opposing Hawks set Hartwick back, making it difficult to find openings offensively. McCaw led the set with five of the total nine team kills, Ramirez and Ruggiero splitting the other four evenly. Despite Hartwick's determination to bring the game to a fifth, Hilbert pulled away with a 25-18 finish to close out the contest.
THE BASICS
- Final Score: Potsdam 3, Hartwick 0
- Location: Hamburg, NY | Brad Hafner Recreation Center
- Records: Potsdam (4-2, 1-0 NEVC) Hartwick (3-14, 0-0 DIII Independent)
HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 2 vs. Potsdam)
Facing the Potsdam Bears in their second match, Hartwick came out with a bang, a Ruggiero kill placing them in an early lead. Despite Potsdam's early defensive mistakes, they were able to settle in and build momentum, using consecutive runs to open a nine-point advantage. Hartwick was unable to recover from the wide gap, dropping the opening set 25-12.
Hartwick showed significant improvement in the following set, gaining 13 kills while hitting a .248 as a team. Ruggiero led the attack with five kills, Ramirez following closely behind with four. With a more balanced attack, Hartwick stayed within the Bears' distance throughout the set. At 18-19, however, Potsdam used a six-point run to reach set point, the Hawks falling 25-19.
Trailing 2-0, the Blue and White continued to push the Bears in the final set.
Xander Steadham (Cobleskill, NY) tooled a key swing to bring the Hawks up, Potsdam struggling to create separation. Going point-for-point down the stretch, Roorbach helped balance the attack with Ruggiero, Ramirez, and
Keegan Doherty (Methuen, Ma.) who recorded 3 kills each. Potsdam gained a late edge, using a kill and a block to close the match out with a 25-21 decision.
About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.
