Box Score
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Behind a career-hitting performance from senior Dionna Kirton, the University of Hartford volleyball team surged to a three-set sweep of the visiting Binghamton Bearcats on Sunday afternoon at the Reich Family Pavilion. Kirton finished with 17 kills while hitting an impressive 53.3 percent for the Hawks (7-12 overall, 1-2 America East).
Kirton's 17 kills led all players in the match, while she was joined by junior Sareeta Nethersole and freshman Corinne Horanzy in leading Hartford. Nethersole and Horanzy each finished with 10 kills with Horanzy also hitting at a 38.9 percent clip. Kirton finished the match with just one error in 30 total attempts, while Horanzy had three errors in 18 attempts.
As a team, Hartford finished with a season-best hitting average of .352 with 51 kills and matching a season-low of 13 errors in 108 attempts. This 35 percent hitting average for Hartford is the third match this season the Hawks have hit 30 percent or better. Leading Hartford offense was junior setter Jackie Tamburri who finished with 39 of Hartford 42 total assists. The Hawks also finished with four service aces.
Defensively, the Hawks were led by freshman libero Paola Llerandi who finished with 12 digs, the only player to record double figures on the defense end. Joining her in leading the team was Horanzy who finished with eight digs. The Hawks also registered four total blocks with senior Lindsay Anderson having a hand in all four, including one solo stop.
A back-and-forth opening set fell in favor of the Hawks with a 25-23 final coming courtesy of a kill from Nethersole. The opening set saw a total of 10 ties and six lead changes before a victor was determined. Kirton led all hitters in that first set, dropping six kills without an error in 11 attempts.
After opening the second set slow, the Hawks used a series of nine points over a 12-point stretch to gain their first lead of the match at 12-8. After trading points for a bit, the Hawks broke open the set taking seven of eight points for a 23-15 lead before taking the two-match advantage on a kill from Maya Louis.
The Hawks used runs of eight-straight and seven-straight in the middle of the third set to pull away from the Bearcats and score the match victory with a 25-12 final in the final game. The first run for Hartford started with three-straight hitting errors against Binghamton while Anderson opened the second run for the Hawks with three-straight kills, part of nine total for the middle blocker.
Hartford will play their next four matches on the road beginning with a trip to the newest member of the America East Conference, UMass Lowell, on Friday, October 11. The Hawks and River Hawks are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start in Lowell.
