WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore utility hitter Sareeta Nethersole finished with a career-high 23 kills, but the Hartford volleyball team dropped its home opener to the visiting Central Connecticut State University 3-1 (25-22, 16-25, 25-21, 25-22) on Wednesday night at the Reich Family Pavilion. Nethersole's 23 kills led all players in the match, while older sister Kami Nethersole chipped in 16 kills.

Both Nethersole sisters finished with hitting averages above .300 with the younger sister (Sareeta) leading the team with a .362 effort hitting six errors in 47 total attacks. (Kami) Nethersole finished with a .324 average with five errors in 34 attacks. Overall, Hartford finished with a .248 average on 60 kills and 23 errors in 149 total swings, outhitting the visitors who finished with 50 kills and 20 errors in 139 total attempts for a .216 average.

Sophomore setter Jackie Tamburri finished with a match-best 52 assists as she captained the Hawks offensive threat. Defensively, the Nethersole sisters again led the way, each finishing with a double double as Kami finished with 18 to lead all players while younger sister Sareeta added 10. Sareeta's double double is her third of the season while she has finished with double digit digs in all four matches, Kami completed her second double double of the season.

Despite 15 tie scores in the first set, the Blue Devils took the early lead in the match with a 25-22 final. The Blue Devils pulled away after a kill from (Sareeta) Nethersole knotted the game at 21. They answered by winning three the next three points, two of which came on Hawks errors. A kill from (Sareeta) Nethersole put the score at 24-22 before the Blue Devils ended the set with a kill from Makenna Lommori.

After switching sides the Hawks responded by taking an early 4-0 lead, one they would not relinquish, tying the match at one. The largest lead of the set for Hartford came at 16-8 following a kill from junior Lindsay Anderson and an error against the Blue Devils. Back-to-back kills from (Sareeta) Nethersole would close out the match with a 24-16 final.

Following the intermission, the Blue Devils responded by opening up a 19-10 lead in the third set, rattling off 10 straight points. Hartford responded to that run by taking the next five points and pulling as close as 23-20 on a kill from Anderson. The Blue Devils then took two of the final three points for the advantage in the match.

The final set played out much like the first with 14 ties and seven lead changes. Leading the way in the final set were the Nethersole sisters who combined for a total of 12 kills and hit into just two errors. Following a service ace from rookie Alicia Tripoli that knotted the game at 20, the Ble Devils used a three-point rally to take a 23-20 advantage and never looked back.

The Hawks return to action at the Volley in the Valley hosted by Marist College on Saturday and Sunday. Hartford opens with two matches on Saturday the first against Fordham (10:00 a.m.) before meeting the hosts at 6:00 p.m. A single match against NJIT (11:00 a.m.) on Sunday morning will close out the weekend event.