Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University of Hartford volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on day one of the Golden Griffin Invitational hosted by Canisius University at the Koessler Athletic Center. The Hawks fell to Cleveland  State in three sets (26-28, 20-25, 13-25) in their first match of the tournament before dropping the night cap to Eastern Michigan in five sets (25-23, 26-24, 17-25, 16-25, 12-15).
Junior outside hitter Sareeta Nethersole led the Hawks in both matches, combining for 34 kills on the day. Nethersole finished with 14 kills in the opening match and added 20 kills in the nightcap. She also finished with double figure kills in both matches with 10 against Cleveland State and added 18 against Eastern Michigan.
Joininh Nethersole in leading the Hawks in the opening match was senior middle blocker Lindsay Anderson finished second overall with eight kills. Anderson led the team with a .294 hitting average as she suffered just three errors in 17 total attacks. Senior Dionna Kirton added six kills for Hartford.
As a team, the Hawks hit .109 in their first match of the season with 34 total kills and 21 errors in 119 attempts. Junior setter Jackie Tamburri marshaled the Hawks offense with 30 assists, while she was one of four players to finish with double figure digs adding 11. Rookie libero Paola Llerandi led the team with 12 digs while Nethersole and Kirton each finished with 10 digs.
In the nightcap, Kirton and Anderson joined Nethersole in double figures on the offensive end. Kirton added 13 kills, while Anderson chipped in 10. Anderson led the trio of team leaders with a .222 hitting average with four errors in 27 attempts, while Kirton also finished with four errors in her 44 total attempts for a .205 average. As a team, Hartford finished with a .157 hitting average against the Eagles with 63 total kills and 34 errors in 185 attacks.
Tamburri finished with her first 50 assist match of the season, her 13th career game with 50 or more assists. The junior setter finished with her second-straight double double as she added 19 digs, second most on the team with Llerandi leading the way with 21. Kirton and Corinne Horanzy rounded out five players with double figure digs adding 14 and 13, respectively.
The Hawks will continue the Golden Griffins Invitational with a pair of matches on Saturday. Hartford will tip-of the day at noon when they take on the host Canisius before facing North Carolina State at 4:00 p.m.Â
