WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Hartford women's volleyball team opened up competition on Saturday defeating Anna Maria in a 3-0 (25-12, 25-13, 25-20) sweep. 

Rapid Recap:

• The AMCATS earned an early 3-2 lead in the first set before a 10-0 Hawk run sparked by five sophomore Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) kills. Kills by freshman Emily Theobald (Verona, N.J.) and freshman Tiffany Mendez (Bay Shore, N.Y.) kept Hartford rolling leading by a 17-6 margin. The Hawks closed the first set in style with a 5-1 run with a kill for Jo. Murphy and another for junior Juliana Robinshaw (South Windsor, Conn.). 
• In the second set the teams were even at 4-4, before another huge Hawk 8-0 flurry behind an ace for sophomore Kaia Karcich (Deep River, Conn.) and a pair of kills by Jo. Murphy. Hartford kept control in the second set using another 6-2 run with kills for Mendez, sophomore Liahnna Orange (Linden, N.J.) and sophomore Jenna Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) to keep the 20-9 advantage. Anna Maria scored three-straight points, but the Hartford countered with three-consecutive points to take the second set. 
• In the third set the Hartford held a tight 5-4 lead before another 5-0 spurt with three aces for Jo. Murphy and a kill for Mendez pushed the lead to 10-4. Anna Maria chipped away at the Hawk lead cutting the deficit all the way down to 22-20, but Hartford put things away with three-consecutive points on a kill by sophomore Kalle Legassey (Prospect, Conn.) and two aces for Je. Murphy. 

Post Game Press:
"We worked as a team all throughout this past week", said sophomore Jenna Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.). "We have been working really hard, and it feels great to pickup the first win of the season."

Inside the Numbers:

• Je. Murphy led the offense with nine kills on a .800 kill percentage to go with four total blocks and two aces. Jo. Murphy added 10 kills, six aces and six digs. 
• Junior Kylee Connally (Dallas, Texas) led the passing effort with 17 assists to go with three digs. Orange added 10 assists along with five digs and a pair of aces. 
• Defensively Mendez led the way with 10 digs to go with her five kills. 
• Jana Hunt led the AMCATS with eight kills and an assist. 

Up Next: 
The Hawks will travel to Middletown, Conn. to take on Wesleyan University on Tuesday September 3rd with a 7:00 p.m. start. 

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