WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The University of Hartford volleyball team picked up a win on Wednesday evening sweeping Lesley University for three straight sets (25-9, 25-14, 25-8)

Rapid Recap: 

• The Hawks set the tone early in the match. Sophomore Jenna Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) put the first point on the board with a powerful kill off of the hands of sophomore Liahnna Orange (Linden, N.J.) The Hawks quickly rose to a 6-1 score lead, Orange served up an ace and set up junior Juliana Robinshaw for a striking kill onto Lesley's court. The Hawks maintained their dominance with big plays from the freshman Tiffany Mendez (Bay Shore, N.Y.) adding two swift service aces to her stat sheet to continue their run. The Hawks increased the differential to 11-1. Lesley forced a few errors to add a couple points to the scoreboard to break the Hawks streak, 12-3. Lesley's Shae found her rhythm and served up two back-to-back aces to keep them in this first set battle, 15-6. The Hawks were on fire from the serving line in the opening set as Robinshaw tossed up a strong ace and sophomore Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) followed right behind with three impressive aces of her own, Hawks increased their lead 20-7. Sophomore Kalle Legassey (Prospect, Conn.) enters the game with power, she services a perfect ace then tosses up a perfect set to Mendez for a kill and ends the first set with another silencing ace. The Hawks take the first set 25-9.
• Second set had an explosive start as Orange finds the hands of Mendez to slam down a kill to get the first point. Orange serviced another striking ace to take command, 2-0. Lesley was not going to let the Hawks pull away this early in the set and served up an ace and kill of their own by Morales, 4-2. The Hawks quickly gained control with a sweep of strong plays, 9-5. Lesley managed to force errors from the Hawks to decrease the differential to just one, 10-9. The Hawks send in Legassey to change the direction of this set. She enters the game with an electric ace. The Hawks then go on to score back-to-back five point runs to end this set with power. Key plays were off the hands of Jor. Murphy, Robinshaw, and freshman Andrea Martir-Perez who had entered the game with a strong ace. The Hawks took the second set 25-14.
• The third and final set was a dominating one from the Hawks. The Hawks opened the set with a thirteen point run, Mendez adding four aces and a kill to this streak. Freshman Jordan Garrison (Ambridge, Pa.) threw down a lightning kill off the hands of Orange. Lesley forced errors from the Hawks to break this impressive run, score stood at 16-4. The Hawks were not finished with their scoring run and went on to claim a five point then another four point run to end the set 25-8. Key plays in the final moments of the set were from the hands of freshman Laila Ruiz (Mamaroneck, N.Y.), Orange, Jen. Murphy, and Mendez. 

Post Game Press:

Sophomore Liahnna Orange (Linden, N.J.) had this to say coming off of this great win, "This win gives the team great momentum as we get ready to finish conference play!" 

Inside the Numbers:

• Orange contributed 24 of the Hawks 29 assists in today's match along with seven digs, earning six points.
• Jen. Murphy lead the Hawks offensively with eight kills adding to her season total of 77. 
• Mendez served up six aces for the Hawks she also leads the team in total aces with 33.

Up Next:
The Hawks will host the University of New England this Saturday November 2nd at 2:00 p.m.

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