THE BASICS:
RESULTS: 
MATCH 1: Princeton 3, Hartford 0
MATCH 2: Hofstra 3, Hartford 0
LOCATION: Mack Physical Education Center (West Hempstead, N.Y.)
THE LEAD: The University of Hartford volleyball team was topped in its final two matches of the Hofstra/Asics Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 12, falling at the hands of Princeton and host Hofstra. Katy Henchy led the Hawks with nine kills on the day, while libero Paola Llerandi was named to the event's all-tournament team for her performance on the weekend.

KALLICK'S TAKE
"I was really proud of how our team fought and competed tonight in the face of adversity," head coach Mitch Kallick said. "I'm looking forward to getting back in the gym Monday to get ready for our match against Bryant on Tuesday."

MATCH 1: PRINCETON 3, HARTFORD 0
Princeton used a tremendously efficient attack to topple the Hartford volleyball team in the Hawks' first match of the Hofstra/Asics Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Kendall Peterkin led all players with 13 kills for the Tigers, while Brittany Ptak added 11 for Princeton in the win. Henchy led the Hawks with five kills in the loss, while Paulina Modestow and Astrid Mangual tied for tops on the team with seven digs.

The Hawks and Princeton had a back-and-forth opening set, with the Tigers opening up a 5-4 lead early in the first on the strength of kills from three different players. Princeton rallied to take a 10-6 lead, but at that point both teams were able to repeatedly get sides out, with a Modestow kill trimming the deficit to 19-16. But a Hawks service error set off a rally for Princeton, which went on to a 25-17 win in the opening stanza.

In both the second and third sets, though, Princeton turned up its offensive game. The Tigers hit a remarkable .500 in the second and added five aces to take the middle set, with Peterkin leading the way with five kills. In the third, Princeton delivered 16 kills to just two errors, with Ptak delivering five kills and no errors in nine attacks to lead the way. Henchy posted three of her five kills in the third.

MATCH 2: HOFSTRA 3, HARTFORD 0
Hofstra closed out its run toward the tournament championship by delivering a 3-0 win over the Hawks in the nightcap. Michela Rucli led the way with 11 kills to lead a balanced Pride attack that saw six different players tally at least five kills in the match.

The Pride jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first on the strength of kills from five different players, including two from Kaitlyn Krause, with all five assisted by tournament MVP Hannah Klemm. The Hawks were able to fight back, cutting the deficit to 17-10 after an Asha Wafer kill, but the Pride called timeout at that juncture and regained the momentum. Hofstra ran off five straight points to push the lead back to 23-11 en route to a 25-13 win in the opening stanza.

In the second, the Pride carried over the momentum to jump out to an 8-1 advantage. But the Hawks refused to relent, battling back with a Katy Henchy kill cutting the deficit to 14-6. After the Pride built the lead back to 17-6, the teams traded blows all the way to a 21-11 score. The Hawks garnered three of the next four points, using a block, an ace and a kill, to make it 22-14, but Hofstra netted the last three points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

A fast start was the name of the game for the Pride once again in the third, opening up a 13-4 lead after a Rucli kill. But the Hawks came back with four of the next six points, including a kill by Wafer, to cut the deficit to 15-8. Hartford continued its battle to cut the lead to 17-11 after a Henchy kill. The Pride was able to bounce back, though, scoring eight of the last nine points to finish off the match.

UP NEXT:
Hartford will return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 15, when they face Bryant on the road in Smithfield, R.I. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.