BOX SCORE
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of Hartford volleyball team suffered a five-set loss to the Providence Friars in America East action on Sunday afternoon. After falling in the first set, 25-20, the Hawks rallied to score wins in the second and third set with scores of 25-17 and 25-22. Providence clinched the fourth set, 25-20, and went on to take the final set by a score of 16-14.
Leading the way for the Hawks was Kami Nethersole who finished with 17 kills. Sareeta Nethersole, Lindsay Anderson and Dionna Kirton all added double digit kills with 12 for Nethersole and Anderson and 11 for Kirton. Rookie Jackie Tamburri led Hartford defensively with 19 digs. She finished with a double double on the afternoon after registering 47 assists.
As a team, the Hawks finished the match hitting .193 with 64 total kills and a match-high 31 errors in 171 total attacks. The Hawks best hitting came in the second set as they cruised to a 25-17 victory. In that match, the Hawks compiled 16 kills, a high for both teams for a single set, and hit into just three errors in 36 total attempts. In the fifth set, the Hawks opened up the action without hitting an error in their first 14 attempts, hitting eight kills in that span and taking an 11-7 lead. The Friars would fight back to score the match victory, the second match in a row that the Hawks have lost a late lead in the fifth set.
Among the leading hitters, Anderson led with a .360 attack percentage with three errors in the match amid her 15 total hits. Tamburri led all hitters with a .417 attack percentage with six kills and only one error in12 total attempts. Nethersole (Kami) struggled throughout the match with a .034 hitting average suffering 15 errors in 58 total attempts.
Joining Tamburri in leading the defense was the Hawks defensive specialist and starting libero Danielle Etta who finished with 17 digs. As a team, the Hawks combined for seven total blocks, while hitting into 15 blocks credited to the Friars. Leading the way for the Hawks was Michelle Cordell who finished with four. Lauren Fletcher led all players in the match with 13 total blocks.
Provide finished the match with a .210 team hitting percentage led by Fletcher who smothered an impressive 28 total kills and hit .481 for the match with a minimal three errors in 52 total attacks. Shelagh Dolan was the only other Providence player to finish in double figures with 10 kills, while Cassie Muzzonigro led all players in the match with 20 digs.
The Hawks will play their next match on the road before returning to West Hartford for four-straight home matches. The next match will keep the Hawks within the Connecticut state limits as they travel to Storrs for a date with the Connecticut Huskies on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
