BOX SCORE
WEST HARTFORD, CONN. – The University of Hartford volleyball team scored its third-straight victory at home with a five-set (20-25, 26-24, 25-23, 19-25, 21-19) win over the Providence College Friars on Friday night. The match also served as Dig Pink night for the Hawks, who through the generous support of fans of the program raised more than $1,600 to support the Side-Out Foundation's goal of raising awareness and money for breast cancer research.
The Hawks (8-17, 3-5 America East) were led by freshman Dionna Kirton who recorded a career-high 20 kills, passing her previous career-high of 15. Kirton also led all of the Hawks hitters with a .312 hitting percentage, suffering just five errors in 48 total attacks. Kirton's 20 kills also marks the second-straight match she has finished with double figure kills, and the second-straight match she has recorded a double double (15 digs).
Kirton was one of four players to finish in double figures with Kami Nethersole second on the team with 13 kills. Michelle Cordell and Lindsay Anderson rounded out the leading hitters with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Cordell and Anderson also had great hitting performances with Cordell hitting .292 (five errors, 24 attacks) and Anderson hitting .250 (five errors in 20 total attacks).
All of the Hawks hitting was made possible because of a 61-assist night from senior setter Lindsay Ford. Ford's 61 assists is one shy of her career-high set earlier this season, while it is the third time this year she has finished with 60 or more assists. Ford also added six kills and 15 digs, for her ninth double double of the season.
Defensively, Kirton, Ford and Nethersole all led the team with 15 digs, with each finishing the match with a double double. Danielle Etta, the Hawks starting libero, finished with 13 digs. As a team, Hartford with 10 blocks. Leading the blocking efforts were two Hawks, Anderson and Nethersole who each finished with four total blocks. Cordell also added three blocks for Hartford.
As a team, the Hawks finished with a .224 hitting percentage, nearly identical to that of their opponent. The Friars finished with a .225 hitting percentage (65 kills, 25 errors 178 total attacks). Hartford led both team with 72 total kills, while committing 31 errors in 183 total swings. The Hawks also led the way in digs (75-65).
Hartford will return to action on Saturday when they host the New Hampshire Wildcats at 6:00 p.m. Saturday's match is a change from the initial schedule, which had the game scheduled for Sunday.
