BEVERLY, Mass. - The University of Hartford women's volleyball team dropped three straight sets in Saturday's conference match against Endicott Colllege. The final score was 3-0 (25-19, 25-9, 28-26).

Rapid Recap:

• Hartford opened the match strong, taking advantage of a few attack errors off of the hands of the Endicott College Gulls, giving them a quick lead 2-0. Gulls offense shortly after found their rhythm connecting powerful kills by Murphy and Helenbrook, 5-4. The Hawks picked up three straight points with a slamming kill from junior Sydney Ball (Enfield, Conn.) off the perfect set up from junior Kylee Connally (Dallas, Texas), the Hawks pulled ahead 7-5. The Gulls were challenged with this lead change and answered with a four-point run forcing errors on the Hawks. The Gulls maintained their lead heading into the rest of this set despite fighting attempts from the Hawks defense, nearing the end of the first set score stood at 24-18 Gulls. The Hawks had one last attempt to claim this first set with a stellar kill from Ball set up nicely by junior Amaiya Lu (Lawrence, Mass.) to work at closing the gap, 24-19. Gulls finished the first set with a winning kill from Murphy. The Gulls took the first set 25-19.
• The Gulls opened the second set with momentum claiming command early with a  6-1 lead. The Hawks made several breaks through the Gulls back to back runs with electric kills from freshman Tiffany Mendez (Bay Shore, N.Y.), Gulls continued their lead 13-6. The Gulls were not slowed enough as they went on to claim a six point scoring run, and shortly after a four point set to finish the second set 25-9 Gulls lead 2-0 in the match.
• The Gulls and Hawks gave the fans a thrilling third set on this Saturday afternoon. The Hawks started off strong, leading 2-0 first from a solid block from the Murphy sisters; sophomore Jenna Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) and sophomore Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.). Jen. Murphy had the first kill of the third set for the Hawks spiking a perfect set off the fingertips of Connally. The Gulls pulled ahead with a six point run with their first points of the third set. The remainder of this set was a battle from both sides of the court. Points from the Hawks were from a powerful service ace from Lu and Ball to put the Hawks up 13-12.  Both teams traded error for error in the final stretch of this set. Freshman Emily Theobald (Verona, N.J.) gave the Hawks another point with a lightning kill again off the hands of Connally. The Gulls managed to break away with a late set six point run stealing the lead 23-18. The Hawks were not ending this set without a fight answering with a swift five point run to snag back the lead 25-24, with three straight service aces from freshman Kalle Legassey (Prospect, Conn.). The Gulls responded with a kill from Dresback, score stood even 25-25, and then 26-26. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the Gulls pulled away to secure their victory ending the set 28-26 and match 3-0.

Inside the Numbers:

• Junior Sydney Ball (Enfield/Windsor Locks, Conn.) delivered an impressive nine kills and two digs totaling 70 kills in just the 2024 season.
• Junior Kylee Connally lead the team with 13 assists in this Saturday afternoon match.
• Endicott freshman Dresback added 14 kills to her season total of 189 kills to start her college career.

Up Next:
The Hawks return home for their next match on Wednesday October. 23rd at 7:00 p.m. to face-off against Curry College.

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