NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Hartford volleyball came up short against Sacred Heart on Friday, dropping a 3-2 decision in the second match of the Battle of Connecticut. The Hawks fall to 1-3 on the season while the Pioneers improve to 3-1 overall.
 
SACRED HEART 3, HARTFORD 2 (25-23, 23-25, 22-15, 25-19, 11-15)

• SET ONE: Both Hartford and Sacred Heart went back-and-forth throughout the entire set until the Hawks pulled off the 25-23 win.
• SET TWO: Exchanging blows throughout the second set, the Hawks and Pioneers found themselves tied up at 20-20. With the score still knotted at 22-22, the Pioneers scored three of the set's final four points to take the win.
• SET THREE: Sacred Heart, which hit .368 in the third set, used a 6-2 run to extend an 8-6 advantage to 14-8. Facing a 16-10 deficit, the Hawks regrouped and pulled within one at 22-21, but Sacred Heart pulled away to win the set, 25-22.
• SET FOUR: Holding Sacred Heart to a .029 hitting percentage, the Hawks jumped out to a quick 8-1 advantage to open up the set. Hartford pushed ahead by as many as 11 at 19-8, but the Pioneers surged to pull within four (23-19). The Hawks would close the door on the Pioneers, though, using a kill from senior Paulina Modestow and a pair of blocks from sophomores Brittany Braun and Megan Anderson to seal the set.
• SET FIVE: Five-straight points erased Hartford's one point lead and put Sacred Heart on top, 8-4. The Hawks managed to close the gap down to two (11-9), but wouldn't get any closer as the Pioneers scored four of the final six points of the set to clinch the victory.
• NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS: Anderson compiled a career-best 51 assists … Senior Jenna Bridges and Braun each recorded career highs in kills, finishing with 19 and 15 kills, respectively … Braun added a personal-best seven blocks, as the Hawks combined for 17.

 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford takes on Fairfield in the final match of the Battle of Connecticut on Saturday. First serve from Quinnipiac is scheduled for 1 p.m.