WEST HARTFORD, Conn – The University of Hartford volleyball team dropped both matches on Sunday in four sets. The Hawks first fell to Western Connecticut State University by a 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-19, 25-17) final before dropping the other contest to the United States Merchant Marine Academy by a 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 25-23) final. 

Rapid Recap (Western Connecticut State University): 

• The teams were even through the first 12 points in the match with the Wolves finally establishing a 11-6 lead. Hartford countered with a 4-1 spurt on a kill by sophomore Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) and another by freshman Tiffany Mendez (Bay Shore, N.Y.). The Hawks continued to chip away with a four-point run with three more kills for Jo. Murphy as the set was tied again 16-16. The Wolves ended the match strong with a closing 9-3 run to take the first set by a 25-19 final. 
• The Hawks took an early 6-5 lead with an ace by sophomore Kalle Legassey (Prospect, Conn.) and kills for Jo. Murphy and junior Sydney Ball (Enfield, Conn.). Western Connecticut took the lead back at 12-10, but a 6-0 run led by three more kills for Jo. Murphy pushed the home team in front by a 16-12 margin. The Hawks held on after the run to win the set by a 25-21 score.
• The third set belonged to the Wolves after jumping ahead by a 12-6 margin in the early going. The best run for the Hawks came late getting four of five points to trim the deficit to 20-15, but the Wolves would stay steady winning 25-19. 
• In the final set of the first match the Hawks found themselves down by a 8-6 margin before getting back-to-back kills by Mendez to tie the set up. Western Connecticut would storm in front once again with a 6-1 counter to grab the lead once more. The Hawks would try their best to keep up eventually falling by a 25-17 margin.

Inside the Numbers:

• Jo. Murphy tallied a new career-best with 22 kills in the match to go with 13 digs and two assists. Mendez added nine kills and a career-high 13 digs. 
• Junior Kylee Connally (Dallas, Texas) led the passing effort with 23 assists and 12 digs, while sophomore libero Emilie Hatje (Middlefield, Conn.) led the defensive effort with 15 digs.

Rapid Recap (United States Merchant Marine Academy): 

• The Mariners stormed ahead by a 9-2 margin stopped by a three-point counter for the Hawks behind kills for Jo. Murphy and sophomore Jenna Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) and an ace by Legassey. USMMA continued to hold control eventually winning the first set by a 25-19 final. 
• The Hawks battled to a 8-4 lead in the second set on an ace by junior Amaiya Lu (Lawrence, Mass.). The Mariners came right back with a 7-0 run to jump in front by a 13-11 margin. The visitors kept rolling taking another 10-1 run to push the lead to 24-14, eventually putting the Hawks away by a 25-17 final.
• Hartford did not quit taking a 5-1 lead in the third set with three kills for Jo. Murphy. The Mariners countered capturing a 15-10 lead, but the Hawks stayed close trailing by a 22-19 margin. The Hawks closed strong on a 6-1 surge to pickup the set win with three kills for Mendez and another by Je. Murphy.
• The Hawks continued the momentum into the fourth set flying to a 7-2 lead capped off by a thunderous kill for Je. Murphy. USMMA battled back to take a 17-14 lead. Ball and Jo. Murphy each added kills to keep the deficit at a single point before tying the game again at 20-20. Junior Juliana Robinshaw (South Windsor, Conn.) added two late kills as the score was 23-23, but the Mariners held on for the 25-23 set win.

Inside the Numbers:

• Jo. Murphy led the offense again with 19 kills to go with 13 digs. Mendez scored a career-high 11 kills to go with 13 more digs.
• Junior Liahnna Orange (Linden, N.J.) dished out 22 assists to go with 10 digs to lead the passing effort. 

Up Next:
The Hawks will stay in Connecticut traveling to New Haven on Wednesday to take on Albertus Magnus College with a 7:00 p.m. tip. 

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