WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford volleyball took down Brown in five sets before defeating Bucknell in straight sets to capture the team title at the Hartford Hawks Invitational with a 3-0 mark on Saturday. Hartford improves to 5-3 while Bucknell dips to 5-3 on the season.
Junior
Jenna Bridges combined for 37 kills, delivering a career-best 21 against the Bison, to lead the Hawks to their fourth-straight victory. Sophomore
Megan Anderson also paced the offense with 87 assists and 10 digs in Saturday's two matches.
HARTFORD 3, BROWN 2 (19-25, 25-20, 25-20, 17-25, 17-15)
- SET ONE: Brittany Braun had four kills and three blocks, but Brown hit .351 to Hartford's .207 clip to take the opening set by a 25-19 final. The Bears jumped out to an early 5-1 advantage and never looked back.
- SET TWO: Both sides went back-and-forth, but neither team was able to establish more than a three-point advantage. But with the score knotted up late at 20-20, Hartford clamped down and rallied for five-straight points to even up the match. The Hawks' defense held Brown to a .100 hitting percentage, forcing eight Bears' errors.
- SET THREE: With the score tied at 9-9, the Hawks pulled away from the Bears with a 6-0 run. Expanding its lead to as many as 10 at 22-12, Hartford was able to cruise to the 25-20 victory.
- SET FOUR: Behind a 5-0 rally, the Hawks clawed back from an early 11-5 deficit and pulled within one, but were never able to claim the lead in the fourth set. Brown, which hit a sizzling .515 in the set, pushed ahead by five at 20-15 before forcing a fifth set after scoring five of the final seven points of the set.
- SET FIVE: Hartford spoiled each of Brown's first two match points before it capitalized on its first of the afternoon for the win. Bridges delivered the final blow on her team-best 16th kill to secure the match for the Hawks.
- NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS: Bridges extended her double-figure kill streak to four matches … freshman Alex Lucero recorded a season-best 17 kills to pace Hartford … the Hawks held a 12-7 advantage in blocks … Kristin Sellers dished out 57 assists to pace the Bears.
HARTFORD 3, BUCKNELL 0 (25-24, 25-14, 25-21)
- SET ONE: A hot start put the Hawks out in front, 11-5, before the Bison clawed back using a 11-3 run to take an advantage at 16-14. Bucknell remained in control and appeared to have the set secured with a 25-22 lead, but a service error by the Bison followed by kills by sophomore Brittany Braun and Anderson led the Hawks to the come-from-behind victory.
- SET TWO: The Hawks rallied behind the hot hand of Bridges to break open a tight second match and take a 17-11 lead on an 8-1 run that featured six-straight points. Hartford was lights out from there, holding Bucknell to just three points over the remainder of the set to coast to the victory. The Hawks hit .387 in set two to Bucknell's .118.
- SET THREE: The final set proved to be one of major momentum swings that resulted in a 19-19 deadlock between the two teams. Three-straight points by Hartford put the Hawks in position to seal the win, though, as Bridges and senior Paulina Modestow propelled Hartford to victory with back-to-back kill.
- NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS: The Hawks extended their winning streak to four matches, their longest since 2014 … Braun also finished with double figures in kills with 11, while Alex Lucero notched nine digs to pace the defense.
NEXT ON TAP
The Lafayette Tournament serves as the Hawks' final tune-up before the start of America East action. Hartford is slated to face Fairleigh Dickinson, Delaware State and Lafayette during the two-day event, which begins on Friday, Sept. 14.
