BOX SCORE
ANNAPOLIS, MD – It's been nearly nine years since a single player recorded 28 or more kills in a match and that is exactly what sophomore Kami Nethersole did in leading the Hartford volleyball team to a 3-2 (23-25, 28-26, 25-12, 23-25, 15-9) victory over the host Navy Midshipmen at the Kristen Dickmann Memorial Tournament. Hartford improved to 4-9 overall with the victory, while Navy stands at 4-8 overall.
“I am extremely proud of the way we played in one of the toughest environments we have played in,” said head coach Don Ferguson. “It was a hard fought battle that we came out on top of.”
Nethersole's 28 kills smashed a previous career-high, which she set last week against Holy Cross (21). Her 28 kills was also the highest for a Hartford volleyball player since November 8, 2002 when Stephanie Volckers recorded 28 kills against Maine. It was one of three times that Volckers finished with 28 or more kills with a season best of 29 on two other occasions. Volckers also holds the school record for single match kills with 39 against Albany on October 28, 2001.
Leading all Hawks hitters was Michelle Cordell who finished with a .609 attack percentage. She was second in overall kills with 15 total, while committing only one error in 23 total attacks. Nethersole finished right behind Cordell with a .469 attack percentage, finishing with five kills in 49 total attacks. Rounding out the leading hitters was rookie Dionna Kirton who added 13 kills, her second-straight match with double figure kills, and Sydney Scott with 12 kills.
As a team the Hawks finished with a season-high hitting percentage of .290 with 73 total kills and 24 errors in 169 total attacks. The Hawks best hitting came in the three matches they won, with a fifth set percentage of .412 (9 kills, 2 errors, 17 total attacks). The Hawks first victory came in the second set where they hit .341 (19 kills, 5 errors, 41 total attacks), while they hit .375 in the third set with 16 total kills and four errors in 32 total attacks.
Another career-high fell after being set just over a week ago against Holy Cross as the Hawks lone senior Lindsay Ford broke her career mark in assists with 62 among the Hawks 73 total kills. Ford was also among the leading blockers in the match, finishing with four total. Leading the Hawks in blocking was Cordell who finished with five total, including one solo block.
Leading the Hartford defense was junior defensive specialist Danielle Etta who finished with 14 kills, one of just two players to finish with double figure digs. Joining her was Kirton, who completed her second-straight double double and fourth total this season, with 10 digs.
The Midshipmen were led by Erin Fortner who finished with 15 kills and three errors in 32 total attacks for a .375 attack percentage. Joining her in double figures was Maida Kalic' who finished with 11 kills. As a team, Navy hit .192 for the match with 52 kills and 23 errors in 151 total attacks.
The Hawks will continue play in their final tournament of the season with a pair of matches on Saturday. Hartford opens the day with a 10:00 a.m. meeting against UMES before playing their final match of the tournament against Howard at 2:00 p.m.
