DURHAM, N.H. – The Hartford volleyball team wrapped up the Holly Young Invitational on Saturday evening, dropping the opening match against Merrimack 3-1, before falling to hosts New Hampshire 3-0. Junior Uzezi Ijoma paced the Hawks with 20 kills on the day, while freshman Juliana Robinshaw led the team defensively, tallying 25 digs on the night. WIth the results, the Hawks fall to 0-3 on the young season.
 

MERRIMACK 3, HARTFORD 1 (22-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-21)

SET ONE: Hartford opened the first set strong, jumping out to an early 8-3 advantage, capped by a Lindzi Thomas service ace. The Hawks would keep their foot on the gas, extending the lead to 11-6, forcing Merrimack into taking a timeout. Out of the timeout, Hartford carried over its momentum, increasing the advantage to 15-7. However, the Warriors would start to battle back, cutting the gap to 17-12 and forcing the Hawks into a timeout. Uzezi Ijoma put a hold on the Warriors momentum though, picking up a kill in the first play out of the timeout. Merrimack would cut the deficit to as little as two, 20-18, but the Hawks would hold on and take the opening set, 25-22.

SET TWO: Merrimack opened the set by jumping out to a 7-2 advantage to force a Hartford timeout. Out of the timeout, Hartford was able to cut the deficit to as close as one at 11-10 after a Sara Gasparotto kill. However, the Warriors pushed their lead to 19-13, but a quick 3-0 run, featuring Ijoma's seventh kill of the match, cut the gap to 19-16 and forced Merrimack into calling a timeout. The Hawks would not let the break in action stop their momentum, scoring twice to pull within one, 19-18, before leveling the set at 20-20 after Ijoma's ninth kill of the match. The late comeback would not be enough though, as Merrimack escaped with a 25-22 victory in set two.

SET THREE: The two sides played to a 7-7 tie in the set, as Lika Nkenchor leveled the score with a heads-up play to tie the set. A few moments later, Merrimack would go on a 3-0 run, taking an 11-8 edge to force a Hartford timeout. Out of the timeout, the Warriors pushed ahead, 17-10, forcing another timeout from the Hawks. After the break in action, Merrimack maintained its momentum, taking the third set, 25-17.

SET FOUR: The fourth set featured another back-and-forth start, as both teams played out a 9-9 tie. However, the Warriors utilized a 7-3 run, taking a 16-12 edge and forcing a Hartford timeout. Isabella Labrada and Ijoma would record kills coming out of the timeout, but the warriors pushed ahead, taking a 20-14 advantage to force another timeout. The Hawks would gain some momentum coming out of the break, using a 5-2 run, capped off by a Gasparotto kill to pull within three, 22-19. However, the Warriors would hold off the late Hartford comeback, taking the fourth set, and the match, 25-21.

NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS: Ijoma led the Hawks with 14 kills … Greta De Gasper tallied her first double-double of the season, posting 11 kills and a team-high 18 digs … Nkenchor contributed a team-high 23 assists.

NEW HAMPSHIRE 3, HARTFORD 0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-20)

SET ONE: The Hawks came out of the gates strong as back-to-back kills from De Gasper and a Wildcat's error gave Hartford an 8-2 lead. After calling a timeout, New Hampshire outscored the Hawks 7-1 to cut the deficit to 10-9, forcing a Hartford timeout. Out of the timeout, the Wildcats would take an 11-10 lead, before going on to win the opening set, 25-12.

SET TWO: The two sides traded points to open up the second set, battling to a 9-9 tie. New Hampshire would open up a gap, using a 7-1 run to take a 16-10 edge and force a Hartford timeout. Coming out of the break,  the Hawks would keep the gap at six, 21-15 after a kill from Lindzi Thomas. However, the Wildcats would go on to win the second set, 25-16.

SET THREE: New Hampshire would jump out to an early lead in the third set, taking a 7-3 edge, forcing the Hawks into taking a timeout. After the timeout, New Hampshire would utilize a 6-3 run to take a 13-6 advantage, forcing another timeout from the Hawks. Hartford would gain some momentum following the second timeout, going on a 7-3 run, capped off by a pair of kills from Isabella Labrada, to cut the gap to 16-13. Hartford would continue to fight back, pulling within two, 20-18, but New Hampshire would hold on to take the set, 25-20, and the match.

NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS: Ijoma paced the team with six kills … Kylee Connally racked up 14 assists on the night … Juliana Robinshaw led the team defensively, tallying 12 digs.

NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 2, when they travel to Dover, Del., for the Delaware State Invitational. Hartford will take on the host Hornets at 4 p.m. on Friday. The Hawks will close the invitational with an 11 a.m. match on Saturday against Loyola (Md.), before taking on in-state foes Quinnipiac at 4:30 p.m.