Men’s Volleyball errors help Hilbert to a win

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University men's volleyball lost a 3-0 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference contest to Hilbert College at St. Joseph Athletic & Fitness Center gym Saturday afternoon.

The Celtics committed 19 service errors and 21 attacking errors in the match compared to the Hawks (2-8, 1-0 AMCC) who recorded eight each.

Gavin McLain (Acworth, Ga./North Paulding HS) hit a career-high 13 kills and tallied two of Carlow's four solo blocks on the day. Luke Campana (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) landed a season-high 10 kills, while Ryan Callahan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area HS) added 17 assists and five digs.

Hilbert defeated Carlow 25-16 in the first two sets.

With Hilbert ahead 7-4, back-to-back kills from McLain and Campana saw the Celtics trailing by one. The Hawks steadily built a lead, maintaining a distance of at least several points enroute to the first set win.

Hilbert jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the second set and strung together an 8-3 run to get ahead, 17-9. The Hawks outscored Carlow 5-3 to end the second set with another 25-16 victory.

The Celtics fared better in the third set. After falling behind 3-0, a service error handed the ball back to Carlow and set off an 8-1 run to put the Celtics up, 8-4.

Hilbert scored six unanswered points to regain the lead before Carlow tied the game at 11- and 12-all. The Celtics kept it close throughout the remainder of the match, but Hilbert always maintained at least a one point advantage.

Leading 23-21, a kill and a Carlow error handed the Hawks the 25-21 third set win.

Nikolas D'Andrea led the Hawks with a game-high 15 kills and three solo blocks. Michael Pozzuto picked up a game-high seven digs, and Mehkai Francis added 20 assists.

The Celtics travel to Penn State Altoona for a 7 p.m. AMCC game Feb. 17.