WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Junior Jenna Bridges recorded double figures in kills for the third-straight match on Friday to lead the Hartford volleyball team to a straight-set win against Niagara. Bridges compiled 18 kills and four blocks in the opening match of the Hartford Hawks Invitational to help the Hawks improve to 3-3 on the season.
 
Niagara, which dips to 0-7 with the defeat, was led by Caroline Leitch, who came one dig shy of a double-double with 12 kills and nine digs.
 

Before tonight's match, we presented @hartfordvball head coach Vinh Nguyen with the game ball from his first career win as a head coach! ???? #AEVB #CapitalCityTeam pic.twitter.com/I6pyB9AdhJ

— Hartford Hawks (@HartfordHawks) September 8, 2018

 
HARTFORD 3, NIAGARA 0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-21)

• SET ONE: The first set went back-and-forth, until the Hawks rallied for four-straight points to erase a one-point deficit and take a 15-12 advantage. Maintaining its lead, Hartford used a 3-0 run fueled by a pair of kills from sophomore Brittany Braun to take the first set by a 25-21 final.
• SET TWO: A dominant start allowed the Hawks to jump out to an early lead that they would not relinquish. Behind the strength of four kills and a service ace by sophomore Megan Anderson, Hartford built an 8-1 lead. The Purple Eagles made things interesting down the stretch, though, as they rallied back to close the gap to one at 20-19. But Hartford regained control and closed out the set strong, delivering a 5-2 run to take the 25-21 win.  
• SET THREE: Niagara had the better of play to start the third set, opening up a 5-3 lead. Taking the lead on a 4-0 run, the Hawks continued to rally and pushed ahead by as many as seven points at 22-15. The Purple Eagles wouldn't go down easy, though, as they rallied for four-straight points to pull within three (22-19). Despite the threat, Hartford silenced Niagara's comeback bid and secured the straight-set win by scoring three of the match's last five points.  
• NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS: Anderson piloted the offense by compiling 41 assists, an average of 13.7 per set … Hartford held a 12-6 advantage in blocks as seven Hawks recorded at least one block … two other Hawks joined Bridges with double figures in kills as Braun and senior Paulina Modestow added 12 and 10, respectively.

 
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks host two more matches on Saturday, as they take on Brown at 1 p.m. and Bucknell at 7 p.m.