BOX SCORE
PHOTO GALLERY
West Hartford, Conn. – The University of Hartford volleyball team battled back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth set decision before falling to the Marist Red Foxes 2-3 (25-15, 25-22, 25-27, 18-25, 15-8) in the 2011 home opener on Wednesday night. Both teams conclude tonight's match with a 2-2 overall record. Junior Kami Nethersole continued her team leading hitting with her fourth-straight game in double figures with a match-high 18 total kills.
Nethersole was one of four players to finish with double digit kills. Joining her was senior Michelle Cordell with 12, sophomore Lindsay Anderson with 11 and freshman Sareeta Nethersole with 10 kills. Anderson led all hitters in the match with a .526 hitting percentage with only one error in 19 total attacks.
The Hawks hitting struggled mightily in the first two sets, finishing those with a combined -.040 hitting percentage before rebounding with a .212 hitting percentage in the third set and a .222 hitting percentage in the fourth set. The Hawks then finished with five kills and five errors in the deciding set.
Marist was led by sophomore Grace Hill who finished with 17 kills while senior Joanna Foss added 15. The Red Foxes hit .160 for the match including an impressive .304 in the first set with nine kills and two errors in 23 total attacks.
Both teams put up an impressive blocking performance, combining for 26 total blocks. The Red Foxes led both teams with 15 blocks, led by rookie Marissa Gilbert who finished with 10 blocks assists. Anderson and Cordell led the Hawks blocking efforts with six and five kills respective, while (Sareeta) Nethersole finished with four.
Defensively, the Hawks saw four players finish with double figure digs, led by sophomore Dionna Kirton who finished with 17. Joining her was freshman Jackie Tamburri who finished with 13 and (Kami) Nethersole and (Sareeta Nethersole) who each finished with 12. Tamburri completed her third double double of the season finishing with 47 of the Hawks 52 total assists.
The Hawks will return to action this weekend when they travel to Sacred Heart for three matches in the Sacred Heart Invitational. The Hawks open up play on Friday against Rutgers at 4:30 p.m., before facing the host Pioneers on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and Brown at 2:30 p.m.
