HAMBURG, N.Y. – The Hilbert College men's volleyball team closed out their 2017 season celebrating their six senior's careers while they welcomed seven Special Olympians to the starting line-up.

The Hawks put up a strong battle losing the first two sets by a total of five points (25-23, 25-22) to Thiel before they suffered a 25-12 final set and match loss to the Tomcats.

Michael Podgorny earned team-high kills (12) while Adam Heftka did what he does, setting for 20 assists in his final collegiate contest. 

Brandon Henry led defensively with 12 digs and David Arlaud tossed in two block assists.

Anthony Pellicano picked-up a service ace and four digs while Kurtis Maloney added two more kills and Tanner Makowski finished with three kills, one block assist and three digs.

Prior to the start of the game, the Special Olympians from the Western New York chapter stood tall with the seven announced Hilbert starters.  They stayed in format and wished the Thiel Tomcats good luck as they passed each other at the net just before the first serve.

Adam Heftka completed his four-year career with 2413 assists and 108 block assists which places him at the top of the volleyball programs All Time List.  He finished with 87 service aces, one shy of tying the career record and one block away from forcing a two-way tie for second place (141) in Total Blocks.