DOVER, DEL. – The Hartford volleyball team dropped its first two matches of the Delaware State Invitational Friday.
 
DELAWARE STATE 3, HARTFORD 0 (8-25, 15-25, 13-25)
SET ONE: Freshman outside hitter Lindzi Thomas led the team with two kills and a service ace. Junior outside hitter Uzezi Ijoma and Senior middle blocker Sara Gasparotto also added one kill each.
SET TWO: This set was spiced with an Italian flavor as Gasparatto set the tone defensively, forcing two attacking errors via block. Senior outside hitter Greta De Gasper led the team notching three kills.
SET THREE: Trailing 20-7, Hartford refused to go into the night quietly. The Hawks crafted a 6-2 run, but would ultimately succumb to the early deficit. 
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS: Freshman libero Juliana Robinshaw led the team with five digs and two service aces.
QUINNIPIAC 3, HARTFORD 1 (6-25, 9-25, 25-22, 16-25)
SET ONE: Three different players notched a kill.
SET TWO: Thomas notched two assists. Gasparotto added a kill to her daily total. Senior setter Lika Nkenchor also added a kill.
SET THREE: Hartford started out the gates hot, opening with an 8-2 lead. This included a stretch of six consecutive points. Ijoma notched six kills to lead the Hawks to their second set victory of the year.
SET FOUR: It looked like Hartford would continue to have the hot hand, starting with a 3-1 lead. Up 7-6, things started to unravel as Quinnipiac went on a 13-3 run. Hartford answered with a 5-1 run of their own. The Bobcats would finish things off with a 5-1 run of their own. De Gasper led the way with three kills. Nkenchor and freshman outside hitter Isabella Labrada added two kills each
NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS: Ijoma paced the team with eight kills…Nkenchor racked up 10 assists on the night … De Gasper led the team defensively, tallying 14 digs. She also added the team's lone service ace.
NEXT ON TAP
The Hawks will finish the Delaware State Invitational with a rematch against the home squad Delaware State. The match is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Hall Gym in Dover, Del.