HOUGHTON, NY – For nearly a year now, Colt Matz, an 11-year-old boy from Portville, NY, has battled Leukemia at Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo.  On Wednesday night, the Houghton College women's volleyball team dedicated their home opener against the Hilbert Hawks to Colt's courageous battle in front of a packed "Orange-Out-for-Colt" crowd at the Nielsen Center.
 
And the Highlanders came out swinging, posting a season-high .577 attack percentage in the first set, while racking up 17 kills for a 25-8 win.
 
While the Hawks made a run in the second set, and the Highlanders cooled a bit, Houghton again posted 17 kills in the second set and surged to a 25-17 victory to go up, 2-0.
 
The Highlanders continued their solid play throughout the third to win the match in straight sets, their third-staight three-set victory.  The win over the Hawks also boosts the Highlanders over .500 for the first time this season.
 
The evening's events and dedication were spurred, in part, by both Houghton senior setter (and Portville native) Haley Unverdorben.  Both of Colt's parent's, Mike and Christina, teach at Portville Central School, where Mike also coaches baseball. 
 
Various teams and organizations have displayed their support for Colt and the Matz family, including Houghton's baseball team, which donated blood and platelets for Colt over the past few weeks.

There are currently several ways to directly support the Matz family started by their friends, family members and colleagues, to help with the medical costs for Colt's treatment.

Portville Central School has a Venmo account under the name Portville Central School Charity. Donations should include the subject line "Matz." Donors can also drop off cash or checks at PCS with Coralie McMahon.

An online shop with t-shirts for "Colt 45" is available through Studio 4 East at colt45.itemorder.com/sale.

Additional plans for Highlander Athletics to support Colt are currently under way.  More details will be forthcoming.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 3 | Hilbert – 0
Records: Houghton: 4-3 | Hilbert: 0-4
Scores: 25-8, 25-17, 25-10
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 257

NOTABLE STATS
>> Unverdorben dished out a season high 42 assists, the fifth highest single game total of her career, and the most she has served up in a three-set match.  She now has 1,873 career assists.
 
>> Julie Immel led the Highlanders with a career-high 13 kills, while committing only two attack errors (.550).  Immel has set new career bests in kills in each of her past three games.  She has also led the Highlanders in that statistical category in five of the team's seven games this season.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders kick off conference play this weekend with back-to-back road games, first at Utica College on Friday at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday at Elmira College at 1:00 p.m.