HILBERT, N.Y. - The old addage that one of the hardest thing to do in sports, is beat a single team three times in one season, didn't hold true for La Roche volleyball on Wednesday night, as the Redhawks fell to #4 Hilbert for the third time this season, 3-0, ending the 2025 campaign.
La Roche and Hilbert met twice during the regular season, once in non-conference play and then again, 10 days later, in conference play. The Hawks would take both of those matchups, 3-2.
Wednesday night started slow for the Redhawks and unfortunately, the momentum created by Hilbert in the opening set lasted throughout the match.
The Hawks stormed ahead in the first set, after leading just 9-6. opened a 21-7 lead on La Roche and sealed the 1-0 lead with aa 25-14 victory.
Set two saw the Redhawks sit even at through the first 18 points of the match, tied 9-9, but again, Hilbert found a big run, opening a 22-15 lead.
Despite the red and black trimming the deficit to 22-19, the Hawks closed the set with the final three points to move ahead, 2-0, with a 25-19 win.
In the final set, Hilbert rolled at the start, jumping ahead 11-4 in the early stage of the match. The lead continued to hold as the score read, 20-14 as La Roche was on its heels.
The Redhawks finally sparked, scored nine of the next 11 points, taking its first lead in the match past 10 points on each side, 23-22.
Unfortunately, a pair of attack errors by La Roche setup the match point and Hilbert sealed the victory with three straight points to end the night.
Offensively, the two seniors, Kalli Grine and Megan Bologna, playing their final matches as Redhawks, each finished with eight kills, combining for 16 of the 22 kills on the night. Grine also contributed five assisted blocks, while Bologna had 10 digs and three service aces.
Estelle Winck's 10 assists led La Roche on the night and defensively, Kaci DePalma finished with 20 digs and Aislyn Williams equaled Grine with five assisted blocks.
The 2025 season concludes with a 7-16 overall mark to go alongside a 4-4 AMCC record. 2026 will see the Redhawks take the court without Grine or Bologna, but 12 players return, including five of seven starters.