Stats Unavailable due to technical difficulties at Hartford. Will be added shortly.
WEST HARTFORD, CONN. (September 28, 2022)- The Stonehill College women's volleyball team wrapped up their three-game road trip with a stop at the University of Hartford where the Skyhawks fell, 3-2 in a hard-fought battle Wednesday evening at the Chase Arena.
In the first set, Hartford got out to an early 6-3 advantage but Stonehill rallied with a 4-0 spurt that tied the opening set back up at seven courtesy of a Hartford attack error. However, later in the frame, the Hawks grabbed their largest lead of the match (12-7) but again, the Skyhawks rallied and cut the Hartford lead to one (14-13) after a 6-2 run highlighted by a Kaytlin Watson kill. Hartford again would go up by three (18-15), but Stonehill trimmed the deficit back to one (18-17) by a Delaney Mihelich kill. The purple and white continued to battle and tied things at 19 after another Hawks attack error. However, Hartford utilized a 4-1 run of their own and went up 23-20 but a Mia Berardino kill brought Stonehill within two (23-21). Despite the late push, the Hawks took set one, 25-21.
In the second set, Stonehill's offense got off to a quick 3-0 lead courtesy of a Jentry Allen kill. Despite the early lead, Hartford pushed back with a 4-1 run and tied set two at four but that would be the closest Stonehill would let Hartford get to a lead in the match as the squad went to wire to wire in set two and never gave up the lead. After being tied at four, the Skyhawks went up 12-8 behind a 8-4 run which featured a Lauren McCloskey block that allowed for the four-point lead. As the match went on, the purple and white grabbed their largest lead of the set (20-13) after another Allen kill which highlighted a Stonehill 8-5 burst. Hartford tried to battle their way back into the second set when they cut the deficit to three (23-20), but after a kill from Berardino and Kristen Joyce and McCloskey block, the squad took set two, 25-20.
Set three was back and forth to start as both sides were tied at four early, but the Skyhawks gave themselves some breathing room and went up 7-4 after a Hawks attack error. Later in the match, Hartford tied things back up at 12 after an 8-5 rally. The purple and white regained the lead going up 14-12 highlighted by another Allen kill and Hawks attack error but Hartford answered back and evened things at 14. As both sides continued to battle, Stonehill went back up two (20-18) when Skylar Hanley had a service ace. Later in the set, Hartford came back within one (22-21) but after another Hartford attack error, Stonehill went up two again (24-22). Despite the two-point deficit, the Hawks stormed back and went up 25-24 but Lindsey Peirson responded with a kill of her own and tied the match at 25. The Skyhawks recaptured the lead the next play when the Hawks committed another attack error (26-25) but Hartford again tied things up at 26. Hartford took the lead back again later in the set by a score of 28-27 but despite the one-point lead, Stonehill utilized a 3-0 run highlighted by a McCloskey and Molly Turner block which gave the purple and white the third set, 30-28.
Stonehill's offense continued where they left off from the last set and went up 4-1 after McCloskey recorded another kill. However, Hartford came back and retook the lead (7-4) courtesy of a 6-0 spurt. After a Watson and Allen block, the Skyhawks found themselves within one (7-6) but the Hawks pushed their lead back up to four and would end up keeping Stonehill just within three for a good portion of the match. Hartford ended up with a 17-13 lead but again, Stonehill rallied and was down one (17-16) with a 3-0 run highlighted by a Peirson kill. The Hawks again went up three (19-16) seeming in control, but the purple and white came back to tie the set at 19 after Kristen DeLorenzo notched a service ace. Hartford retook the one-point lead (20-19) but the Skyhawks did not go quietly and took the lead right back (21-20) thanks to a Hawks attack error. Each side continued to push one another late in the set and with Hartford up two (24-22), Stonehill brought it back within one (24-23) after a Hartford attack error. Although Stonehill had a late push, Hartford maintained the lead and forced set five, 25-23.
In the final frame of a highly competitive match between these two schools, there were multiple ties and lead changes and with things tied at four, the Skyhawks got some room going up 6-4 because of a Hartford attack error. After Hartford brought it within one (7-6), Stonehill grabbed the two-point lead after another Hawks error which made it 8-6 at the halfway point. Hartford tied the match at nine but a service ace from Joyce allowed Stonehill to back up one (10-9). As the set went on, the Hawks utilized a key 4-1 push to go up 13-11. The Skyhawks made things interesting as Peirson recorded another kill that made it 13-12 but despite the rally, Hartford grabbed the next two points for the win, 15-12.
Up Next
Stonehill comes back home to kick off a five-game homestand when the squad takes on Merrimack College in their purple and white game on Friday, September 30 at 7 p.m. Student activities will also be at the match with a variety of giveaways.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
