WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Hartford volleyball team dropped its second three-set decision, in as many days, to the Binghamton Bearcats on Saturday at the Reich Family Pavilion. The Hawks (6-14, 0-4 America East) were led by a combination of Kami Nethersole and Sareeta Nethersole who combined for 16 kills.

Hartford struggled to find a hitting rhythm throughout the match, finishing with a .136 hitting average on 28 kills and 14 errors in 103 total attacks. Leading the hitters was sophomore Kathryn Gawrych who finished without an error in 12 attempts with five kills. Her five kills was second most to the Nethersole sisters. Sophomore setter Jackie Tamburri finished with 21 assists.

Defensively, the Hawks were led by a pair of players with Dionna Kirton leading the team with 12 digs. Tamburri finished with 10, completing her 11th double double of the season. The Hawks also combined for five total blocks, led by Gawrych who finished with three total, a solo block and two block assists.

The Bearcats were led by Kristin Hovie who finished with 15 kills, while libero Xiomara Ortiz led the team defensively with 22 digs. As a team, Binghamton finished with a .299 hitting average with 48 kills and 16 errors in 107 total attacks.

The Hawks didn't hold a lead in the first or second set. The home team needed to work from behind early in the first set after the Bearcats opened with a 4-0 rally. The Hawks managed to cut that lead to two, following three straight kills, two from (Kami) Nethersole and one from (Sareeta) Nethersole. Neither team would manage a run of more than three for the remainder of the game, with the Bearcats able to grow their lead to as much as five on three occasions. Back-to-back kills from Hovie closed out the first set.

After the Bearcats opened the second set taking the first two points, the teams traded points over the next 10, before a four point rally allowed the Bearcats to open up a 13-8 lead. That lead came by way of a kill from Alex Roland. Late in the set, the Hawks trailed by their largest deficit, 24-14, but managed a late rally of seven straight before Hovie ended the second set the same as she did the first.

The final set started much different as the teams traded rallies over the first 15 points. The first rally opened the set in favor of the Bearcats as they scored the first four straight. Hartford answered by scoring the next five, taking their first lead of the match at 5-4. The run included kills from Tamburri, (Kami) Nethersole and Lindsay Anderson.

Binghamton responded to that run with another of its own, a five-set scamper that regained a four-point advantage in their favor. The visitors then used two more four-point scurries in the middle of the match to break open a 10-point advantage at 19-9. Hartford answered that by rattling off four straight, but would get no closer with the Bearcats closing out the match with kills from Megan Burgess and Grace Vickers.

The Hawks return to action with a second set of back-to-back matches next weekend. First on the docket will be the Providence Friars of Friday night at 6:00 p.m. before a visit from the New Hampshire Wildcats at the same time on Saturday evening.