THE BASICS:

MATCH INFORMATION: Hartford (4-14, 2-4 AE) at UMBC (12-7, 4-1)
DATE/TIME: Friday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.)
LOCATION: RAC Arena (Catonsville, Md.)
COVERAGE: AE.TV | Live Stats | Twitter: @HartfordVBall             
 
FIRST SERVE
Winners in two of its last three matches, the Hartford volleyball team encounters a crucial road match on Friday when it takes on UMBC in Baltimore. The Retrievers are tied for the lead in the America East at the halfway point.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY
Hartford and UMBC have squared off 31 times in the history of the two programs, with the Retrievers holding a strong 26-5 all-time advantage. The Hawks have won three of the last eight against UMBC, though, including a 3-1 victory at the close of 2016. The Retrievers bested the Hawks in the earlier meeting this season, 3-0, in the Hartford Volleyball Gym.
 
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS
UMBC got out to a strong start in league play, sitting tied with UAlbany for first in the conference at 4-1. The Retrievers' only loss came at Stony Brook, while they registered road wins at New Hampshire and UMass Lowell this weekend. Paola Rojas has been stellar in the middle this season, hitting at a .281 clip with 1.00 blocks per set overall. In league play, Rojas has hit at a whopping .380 clip and is averaging a team-best 3.56 kills per set.
 
THE NASHURAL
Freshman Abby Nash had a tremendous match against Binghamton, notching a career-high 19 kills, including seven in the fifth and deciding set. She was recognized for her performance on Tuesday, Oct. 10, collecting America East Rookie of the Week honors to become the first Hawk to garner the award since Katy Henchy in 2014. She followed that performance up with another 19 kills in the win over UMass Lowell, adding 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. She leads the team with 3.00 kills per set in league action.

ANDY'S DANDY
Freshman Megan Anderson has stepped up at the setter position as of late, delivering 30-plus assists in five of the last six matches. She contributed 43 in the win over Binghamton and then followed that up with 46 in the win over UML. Since earning a spot as a regular in the lineup on Sept. 15, she has delivered at least 12 assists in each match and has 13 aces overall.
 
THE HENCHWOMAN
Senior Katy Henchy has had a strong senior campaign, including earning all-tournament honors at the Hartford Invitational in September. Henchy led the squad with 31 kills in the event, hitting .233 on the weekend. She matched her season high with 13 kills at Stony Brook, and now has a team-best 153 on the year.
 
JENNA ON THE BLOCK
Sophomore Jenna Bridges has emerged from her stellar debut season as one of the top players in the America East in 2017. The Exeter, R.I., native is among the conference leaders with 1.05 blocks per set (second), and she has totaled 24 blocks, including seven solo, in the last four matches. She has also been stellar on the serve, as her .47 aces per set lead the league as well.


SHOWING HER BRAUN
For the second time this season, freshman Brittany Braun collected all-tourney recognition at the SHU Invite. She also collected honors at the Dog Pound Challenge, hosted by UConn. Braun leads the team with a .259 attack percentage on the year, and her .83 blocks per set are third on the team and ninth in the league.
   
UNFAMILIAR FACES
While head coach Mitch Kallick is back for his third season, his two assistants are new faces for the Hawks. Mia Frugé joins the Hawks after strong experience at Trinity University in San Antonio and the U.S. Naval Academy, while Kelsey Armstrong comes to the squad with significant club coaching experience under her belt.
 
SENIOR FIVE
Hartford boasts a five-person senior class, led by Henchy and Astrid Mangual Duran (198 assists). Henchy was second on the Hawks in both kills per set (2.47) and attack percentage (.184) last year, while Mangual Duran led the squad with 869 assists. Alyse Wenzel also returns in the middle and is fourth in the conference with .98 blocks per set, while Brianna Pacileo has provided strong service and Emma Lorenzo has added depth and experience to the team.
 
JUNIORS MINT
The duo of juniors on Hartford's roster brings a veteran presence to the Hawks as well. Paulina Modestow has been one of Hartford's leading hitters since arriving on campus, and was atop the squad with 2.95 kills per set a season ago – a total that ranked fifth in the America East. Montrashay Worley enters her third year on the back line, where she was sixth on the team with 1.55 digs per set.
 
SECOND-YEAR STUDS
The five-person sophomore class looks to build on a strong 2016 freshman year. Bridges aims to continue her rise in the America East Conference after being named to the All-Freshman Team and setting a Hartford rally-scoring era record with .93 blocks per set. Megan Scherer (2.15 digs per set) and Nicole Etta (.72) look to play a stronger role in the back in their second seasons as well. Olivia Rougeau (1.40 kills per set) and Dakota Butzler will continue to add depth in the front for the Hawks.
 
FRESH SEPTET
The Hawks' biggest class comes in the form of a talented group of seven for Kallick. In addition to Anderson, Nash and Braun, Daisy Eklund and Lacey Zadra will both add depth on the front line. Dacey Perez has stepped into the libero role already this season, and fellow freshman defensive specialist Jordan Fuelling has added significant depth to the back line.
 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks return to the Hartford Volleyball Gym for a non-conference affair when they face Bryant on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m.