WEST HARTFORD, CT - The University of Hartford volleyball team dropped a three-game (30-27, 30-23, 30-24) conference match to the Albany Great Danes on Saturday night. The Hawks were led by sophomore Katie O'Hara who finished with 12 kills. Hartford is now 7-19 overall (0-8 AE), while Albany improves to 16-8 overall and 5-3 in the America East.
O'Hara was the only Hawk to record double digits in the kills column. She finished the match hitting .478 from the floor with only one error in 23 total attempts. Erin Macro finished second on the team with eight kills, while Megan Schauffele added six and Jennifer Monroy added five.
Sarah Rasor and Lindsay Ford shared setting responsibilities, with Rasor leading the way with 22 Assists. She also added two kills in four attempts with no errors. Ford added 11 assists to go along with eight digs, second most for Hartford. Sarah Boss led the Hawks defensively with 11 digs.
The Hawks were only able to take a lead in the third game, but did manage three ties in the first two. Hartford was within two points of tying, 20-18, the first game before a five-point run for the Great Danes put them ahead six. The Hawks battled to pull within two, but a kill by Kate Echkardt closed out game one with a 30-27 score.
After pulling within one point a few times early in the second game, a four-point run for the Great Danes gave them a nine point lead, 21-12, that proved to be to much for Hartford to come back. The Hawks got as close as five, 24-19, but back-to-back Albany kills sealed the game.
After the break, the Hawks came out to take their first lead of the match, 7-6 on three-straight points, two of which came on Albany errors, the third an O'Hara kill. The Great Danes took the lead back shortly after, but Hartford tied it at 10 and then allowed a three-point run to put the Great Danes ahead for good. A four-point run put Albany ahead 23-17 and a late run of three-points put them one away from a match victory. Amanda Cowdrey capitalized on a Samantha Jacobsen set to put the match away.
The Hawks continue a four-game home stand with Providence in the final non-conference match of the season on Wednesday, October 31. The Hawks and Friars will battle at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Hartford Sports Center.
