VESTAL, N.Y. – The Hartford volleyball team opened a two-match weekend with a three-set (18-25, 18-25, 16-25) loss to the Binghamton Bearcats on Friday night in Vestal, N.Y. Hartford was led by senior outside hitter Kami Nethersole who finished with 10 kills, the only player in double figures.

Following Nethersole on the offensive attack was younger sister Saretta Nethersole who finished with seven kills and led the pair with a .200 hitting average with three errors in 20 total attacks. The elder sister finished with a .161 attack percentage with five errors in 31 total attempts. Overall, the Hawks finished with a .147 attack percentage with 34 combined kills and 19 errors in 102 total attacks. Sophomore setter Jackie Tamburri finished with 28 assists.

Defensively, the Hawks were led by junior libero Dionna Kirton who finished with 13 digs. Joining her in double figures was Tamburri who finished with her team leading 15th double double adding 10 digs.

Leading all hitters in the match was Binghamton's Kristin Hovie who finished with 13 kills. The Bearcats finished the night with a .350 hitting average with 47 total kills and just 11 errors in 103 attacks. The Bearcats also capitalized on their blocking efforts, finishing with nine total, led by Grace Vickers who blocked six Hartford attacks on two solo blocks and four block assists.

Hartford opened the match with the first two points falling in their favor, the first of which came on a kill from junior Taylor McCreery. An error on the Bearcats followed before Binghamton put their first point on the board on a kill from Hovie. The Hawks held that lead through the first 21 points before the Bearcats used a four-point scamper to tie the score at 11 and take their first and only necessary lead at 12-11 on a ball handling error against the Hawks.

Binghamton used two more small runs to extend that lead out of Hartford's reach, closing out the set with the final three points in their favor. Included in that run was a service ace for Xiomara Ortiz before a kill from Amanda Dettmann closed out the set.

The second set started much differently with the Bearcats able to open up an early 5-1 advantage by way of three early hitting errors against the Hawks. Hartford battled back with a small run of their own, taking six of seven points to knot the score at seven and take an 8-7 lead on back-to-back errors against the Bearcats.

Binghamton answered that Hartford run by taking 10 of the next 15 points, opening up a 19-13 advantage they wouldn't relinquish on a kill from Grace Vickers. The Hawks were able to rattle off three straight points late in the set, but would get no closer than 23-18 before the home team closed out the set with back-to-back kills from Alexa Zvytniewski and Kristin Hovie.

Binghamton again opened the third set with the first point, this time coming by way of a kill for Hovie. The Hawks would manage six ties and two lead changes before the Bearcats were able to secure the straight set victory.

The Bearcats were able to pull away late in the match with a pair of small three point rallies sandwiching a set of six-straight that allowed for a 20-12 advantage, one to large for Hartford to bounce back from. Despite the Hawks winning two of the final three points, the Bearcats were able to secure the victory on a kill from Hovie.

Hartford will next play on Sunday afternoon when they travel to UMBC for a 2:00 p.m. match at the RAC Arena. The Hawks and Retrievers meet for the second time this season, with Hartford looking to avenge a three-set loss to UMBC at home on October 5.