WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The University of Hartford volleyball team dropped a four-set decision to the Albany Great Danes on Friday in the America East home opener at the Reich Family Pavilion. Hartford (6-12, 0-2 America East) was led by senior Dionna Kirton who finished with a match-high 15 kills.

Joining Kirton as the only other Hartford player in double figures was freshman Corinne Horanzy who finished with 11 kills. Lindsay Anderson finished just behind the pair with eight kills, while she led the team with a .238 hitting average matching that of Maya Louis who finished with seven kills.

Defensively, Hartford finished with four players in double figures led by setter Jackie Tamburri who finished with a season-high 22 digs. She also finished with 41 assists for her team-leading ninth double double of the season. Joining her in leading the Hawks defensively was libero Paola Llernadi and Sareeta Nethersole who each finished with 16 digs, while Kirton added 15.

Hartford opened the match securing the first four points with a 4-0 advantage courtesy of an ace from Tamburri. The Hawks extended that lead to 7-1 on a kill from Nethersole. After Hartford gained a 9-4 advantage, the Great Danes mustered their first run of the night, a series of seven straight, to take their first lead at 11-9.

The Hawks responded to that run by scoring the next three on a kill from Horanzy and back-to-back kills from Kirton leading to a 12-11 advantage. After Hartford took four of the next six points in the set to take a 16-13 lead, the Great Danes began their next run which equaled six-of-eight and their second lead of the set 20-18.

Hartford came out of their first timeout of the set to take the next two points and even the match at 20-20 on kills from Louis. The Great Danes went on to score the final five points of the set and take the early match lead with a 25-20 final in the opening game.

In the second set, The Great Danes opened up the early 2-0 lead but never managed to gain more than a two point advantage over the first 10 points of the game. Hartford tied the score for the first time at 5-5 on back-to-back kills from Horanzy and Kirton. A kill from Anderson gave the Hawks their first lead of the set at 7-6 and another from Anderson provided an 8-7 advantage.

Hartford broke a 9-9 stalemate with another kill from Anderson which began a 3-0 run that equaled the largest lead for either team at 12-9 in favor of the Hawks. Kills from Taylor McCreery and Louis provided the Hawks second and third points in the run. The Hawks kept that lead over the next 11 points until a four-point run for the Great Danes gave Albany an 18-16 lead.

After trailing 23-20 late in the set, Hartford rallied to tie the score at 24 apiece on a kill from Horanzy and a hitting error against the Great Danes Amy Hunter. The Hawks spoiled the first set point which was in favor of the Great Danes earning a pair of their own, the second courtesy of a kill from Nethersole. An error against Albany's Amanda Dolan closed out the second set in favor of Hartford 28-26 evening the match at one.

The third match began as a nail biter with a tie at every possible juncture in the first 10 points. Hartford managed its first lead of the set on a kill from Kirton which broke an eight-eight stalemate. From that point, the Great Danes began a series of taking 10 of the next 14 points, building an 18-13 advantage.

Hartford began to mount a comeback trailing by five when they took three-straight capped off by a kill from Tamburri that pulled the Hawks within a pair, 17-19. That run was broken up by a kill from Albany's Hunter. The Great Danes would go on to score three of the next nine points and take a 25-20 victory, regaining a one-set lead in the match.

After trailing 5-2 in the fourth set, Hartford began a series where it took five-of-six leading to the first Hawks lead of the set 7-6. That lead came as Hartford took three straight on kills from Louis and Horanzy and an ace from Kirton. A kill from Horanzy and an error against Albany Hunter would give Hartford their second lead at 10-9 as the Great Danes called timeout.

Hartford never let the Great Danes stretch their lead out forcing ties at 12, 15 and 17 before taking an 18-17 lead an error against Albany. The Great Danes answered that with a three point run that provided another lead change and a 20-18 advantage. Albany closed out the match by taking five of the next eight points and a 25-21 victory in the fourth set.

The Hawks return to the Reich Family Pavilion on Sunday when they welcome the Binghamton Bearcats to West Hartford. The Hawks and Bearcats are scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.