THE BASICS:
RESULTS: 
MATCH 1: Holy Cross 3, Hartford 1
MATCH 2: Brown 3, Hartford 0
LOCATION: Detrick Gym (New Britain, Conn.)
THE LEAD: The University of Hartford volleyball team fell at the hands of Holy Cross and Brown in the final two matches of the Central Connecticut State Invitational on Saturday. Sophomore Katy Henchy led the Hawks in both contests, totaling 22 kills on the day for Hartford.

MATCH 1: HOLY CROSS 3, HARTFORD 1
The Crusaders took a tightly contested match, 3-1 (25-21, 27-25, 20-25, 26-24) in the morning session at the Invitational. Henchy (15) and Paulina Modestow (13) each posted double-digit kills in the defeat, with Modestow adding 14 digs for her second career double-double. Mandy Sifferlen carried the load for Holy Cross, leading all players with 21 kills.

Astrid Mangual delivered 33 assists in a losing effort, and also picked up a double-double with her 13 digs, and Paola Llerandi added 15 digs in the loss. M.C. Magner led all players with her 19 digs for Holy Cross in the win.

In the opening set, Holy Cross jumped out to an early 7-3 lead, but the Hawks were able to rally to cut the deficit to 17-16 toward the middle of the frame. But the Crusaders came back with four straight kills to regain a 21-16 edge. Hartford rallied to trim the deficit to just one at 21-20 following a Modestow kill, but Holy Cross was able to finish strong for a 25-21 victory. The Hawks came out blazing in the second, jumping out to an 18-8 lead on the strength of a .568 attack percentage. But Holy Cross came roaring back with a rally, eventually tying the set at 23 and pulling out a 27-25 win.

Hartford came through with a strong performance in the third, again posting a hot start to take an 8-2 lead. Holy Cross was able to respond, though, and fought its way to a tie score at 11 midway through the set. The teams went back-and-forth to an 18-17 Hawks lead, and then Hartford delivered four of the next five points to pull ahead 22-18.The Crusaders pulled to within 23-20, but a service error and a block by Rachel Moll and Henchy finished off the set, 25-20.

The Hawks and Crusaders came out even in the fourth to a 4-4 score, and then Hartford ran off four points in a row, including a pair of kills by Alyse Wenzel, to open an 8-4 lead. The teams went blow-for-blow to a 13-9 Hawks lead, but Holy Cross came back with four straight to knot the score at 13. Holy Cross was able to take a 23-19 lead when Hartford rolled off five straight points to put the match of the verge of going to a fifth with a 24-23 lead. Holy Cross had other ideas, though, notching three straight kills to finish off a 26-24 win.

MATCH 2: BROWN 3, HARTFORD 0
Brown knocked off the Hawks behind an efficient offensive attack that saw seven different players record at least three kills. Payton Smith was the main catalyst on both offense and defense, delivering nine kills and four blocks for the Bears. Henchy led the way with seven kills for the Hawks.

The Bears got out to an early 10-5 lead in the opening set, but Hartford came right back with three straight kills, two from Brianna Pacileo and the third by Wenzel, to cut it to 10-8. The Bears were able to open the lead to 18-13, then scored seven of the final 10 points in the set to post a 25-16 win. After an even start to the second saw the Hawks trailing 6-5, the Bears offense caught fire en route to a 25-8 victory.

The third saw the squads even at 6-6 after three straight points for the Hawks early on. But Brown went on an 8-0 run to push the lead to 14-6 and traded blows the rest of the way to a 25-13 score.

UP NEXT:
The Hawks return to action on Friday, Sept. 25, with the advent of conference play against New Hampshire. Match time is set for 7 p.m. in Durham, with live video available through AmericaEast.TV and live stats through UNHWildcats.com.