Volleyball Keeps It Rolling With Sweep of Houghton

HOUGHTON, NY – The Hartwick volleyball team kept their excellent season going on Friday night, making the long trip to Houghton and sweeping the Highlanders in three sets (25-14, 25-23, 25-23). The win moves the Hawks to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in the Empire 8, while Houghton is now 6-6 and 2-2 in conference.

After falling behind 2-0 in set one, the Hawks

took a 7-3 lead and never looked back. The Highlanders did put a scare into Hartwick when they reeled off five consecutive points to cut the 'Wick lead to 13-11, but the Hawks quickly recovered for the 25-14 set win.

The second set looked like it might be more of the same at the start, but Houghton put any thought of that to bed by knotting the set up at 10-all. Hartwick ran off six of the next seven points, but again the hosts showed persistence by tying the game at 21-all. They would take a 23-22 lead before the Hawks earned the final three points of the set, the last of which came on a Staecia Silofau (Kapolei, HI/Maryknoll) block.

It seemed as if set three would be an easy coronation for Hartwick, but after taking a 5-1 lead they gave up the next four points to even up the score. They recovered from there, scoring 10 of the next 11 for a 15-6 lead. Once again, Houghton persevered, eventually tying the set at 23. The Hawks secured the final two points and the win on a pair of blocks, though, the second of which was credited to Dell Potts (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane) and Toria Betelak (North Syracuse, NY/Liverpool).

The Hawks had 17 blocks on the evening, eight of which Betelak had a hand in. Potts and Myla Dobson (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) had an additional five block assists each. Dobson also led the Hawks with eight kills, while Braelyn Hornick (Candor, NY/Candor) led her side with 15 assists.

'Wick has a quick turnaround for their next match, as they battle the Wolves of Keuka on the road tomorrow at noon.

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