WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The 2024 University of Hartford women's volleyball team has a core group of returning student-athletes and six newcomers to help make this season a memorable one. The Hawks finished their 2023 season with a 6-11 overall record and 5-4 Conference of New England (CNE) formerly known as the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC). In 2024, the young team is ready for a strong season.
 
COMING BACK STRONGER
The Hawks return nine from the 2023 season including six members that made starts.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) returns after leading the team with 67 kills and 22 blocks in the 2023 season.
 
"Our expectation is to have a successful season in 2024. We are excited to compete in the CNE officially and we have been working really hard in preseason. Last year we were a very young team so this year we are working hard together and learning about each other. We have done a lot of team bonding and we are excited to compete together."
 
Junior setter Kylee Connally (Dallas, Texas) will be another key veteran on the offensive and defensive end. Connally had 281 assists, 99 digs, and led the team with service aces at 22.
 
"I would say our goal this year to ultimately win a CNE Championship. We have a great group this year and it is awesome to be able to compete and get after it on the court. We worked really hard in the spring with our returners, and I am excited to see what our newcomers can add to it."
 
 Junior defensive specialist Juliana Robinshaw (South Windsor, Conn.) provides another upperclassman ready to step-up after getting 63 digs, 13 assists and 11 aces in 2023. 

"We have a cohesive group, so we are really focusing on winning these games, developing through our season and just growing overall as a team. It feels great being able to compete for a CNE Championship this year. We are really excited to actually compete for something more and bring our play to the next level. 

Sophomore setter Liahnna Orange (Linden, N.J.) also returns to the Hawks in 2024 after dishing out 175 assists, while producing 15 kills, 15 aces and 94 digs last year. 

"My team expectations for this year are to beat the competition and to have fun on the court. I think everyone is working hard for it and we really want to win. We are all really excited to play in the CNE now and to show everyone what we are made of and make it count."
 
Head Coach Vinh Nguyen enters year seven in 2024 and is optimistic the Hawks will continue to grow and get better this season. 

"Our team expectations is to improve on the record we had last year in the conference. We want to make sure this year we continue to develop the team culture and expectations with our young group. We have a good mix of young student-athletes, but this year is the first time in a couple of years we have some upperclassmen to help out. It has been great working with our group so far."
 
Nguyen is joined by Hannah Stinson who is in her fourth season with the team and is an important piece on the coaching staff. 

"I think as a team our goal is to get our team chemistry going and then be in the conference tournament at the end of the regular season. So far we have implemented systems as well as work on our individual skill sets. We have done lots of passing and receiving as well as getting good contact to help us getting into our offense."
 
NEWCOMERS
Head Coach Nguyen brings six newcomers to Hartford for the 2024 season.
 
Middle Blocker - Emily Theobald (Verona, N.J.)
Outside Hitter – Tiffany Mendez (Bay Shore, N.Y.), Jordan Garrison (Ambridge, Pa.)
Setter – Laila Ruiz (Mamaroneck, N.Y)
Defensive Specialist – Andrea Martir-Perez (Bristol, Conn.), Gigi Churn (Lewisville, N.C.).
 
SEASON OUTLOOK
The University of Hartford has a 21-game regular season. The Hawks open the season on their home court on Aug 31st at 1:00 p.m. against Anna Maria College. After this season opener the Hawks will hit the road to Middletown, Conn. to face Wesleyan University on Sep. 3rd.
 
Kicking off CNE play in late September, the Hawks will travel to Boston, Mass. to face off Suffolk University on Sep. 25th at 7:00 p.m. The Hawks will have their first home conference game on October 1st against Nichols College at 7:00 p.m.
 
The Hawks were ranked 8th in the 2024 CNE Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll trailing by just a few points behind Roger Williams and the University of New England who were tied for 6th.

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