THE BASICS:

RESULT: Rutgers 3, Hartford 0
LOCATION: Chace Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
RECORDS: Hartford (0-3), Rutgers (2-1)

THE LEAD:
Katy Henchy and Paulina Modestow each delivered nine kills, but the offense for Big Ten foe Rutgers was too much for the Hartford volleyball team on Saturday. The match closed out the Hampton Inn-Vitational, hosted by Bryant, for the Hawks.
 
Meme Fletcher led the way for the Scarlet Knights, delivering a match-high 15 kills to go along with a .481 attack percentage. The duo of Megan Sharkey (20) and Talia Holze (16) combined for 36 assists in the victory. Karysa Swackenberg led all players with 13 digs.
 
Astrid Mangual doled out 25 assists in a losing effort, while Hartford's defense was led by Paola Llerandi, who tallied seven digs. Mangual added a pair of aces in the loss, while Henchy's .389 attack percentage topped the squad.
 
SET-BY-SET
• The two teams battled back-and-forth to a 7-6 Rutgers lead early in the first, before the Scarlet Knights rolled off four straight for an 11-6 lead. Slowly, the Hawks chipped away, getting the deficit down to two on a Henchy kill to make it 19-17, but could get no closer in a 25-22 Rutgers win.
• The Hawks got out to a hot start in the second, with three early Modestow kills helping the squad to an 11-8 lead. But the Scarlet Knights rallied, regaining the lead and pushing the advantage to 18-14 before a Hawks run cut it to just one at 18-17 on a block by Henchy and Alyse Wenzel. Rutgers was able to regain the momentum, though, and took a 25-21 triumph for a 2-0 lead.
• In the third, Rutgers came out on fire, opening an early 10-1 lead. Hartford was able to get it as close as 13-6 but the Scarlet Knights finished off the match with a 25-9 victory.
 
UP NEXT:
The Hawks now return home on Sunday to take on Fresno State in a 4 p.m. match at the Hartford Volleyball Gym. Admission is free for all Hartford home matches.