WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - The Hartford volleyball team picked up their first win of 2025 on Saturday splitting a tri-match which featured Fitchburg State University and Mount Holyoke College. 

Rapid Recap Fitchburg State (W, 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-18)): 

• The Hawks came out the gates strong scoring the first seven points in the first set highlighted by two aces by senior Kylee Connally (Dallas, Texas). After the Falcons got on the board, Hartford would go for another six-point spurt with two kills from twins junior Jenna Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) and junior Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.). The teams would trade points for the rest of the set with another four kills from Jo. Murphy leading to the 25-14 set one win. 
• The Hawks led early in set two by a 8-4 score, before Fitchburg battled back to cut the lead to just one. Freshman Lauren Johnson (Fort Collins, Colo.) gave the home team the momentum back sparking a 7-0 advantage with a pair of kills as the lead was 16-7. The Falcons would get the set to within 18-14, but a 7-3 closing run was enough the Hawks to take set two 25-17. 
• The teams were even at 8-8 in set three before a pair of kills by Jo. Murphy put Hartford back in front. The teams would trade points with again with the Hawks narrowly leading 16-15. The home team would hold strong with kills by Johnson and Jo. Murphy to lead Hartford over Fitchburg 25-18. 

Inside the Numbers: 

• Jo. Murphy led the offense with 11 kills on a .292 kill percentage. Je. Murphy was also remarkable with 10 kills on a .450 kill percentage to go with a solo block and two assisted blocks. Johnson added seven kills and a solo block. 
• Connally led the passing effort with 17 assists to go with three aces and four digs. Freshman Mattea Cosby (Enfield, Conn.) added 12 assists, five digs and a pair of kills in the win. 
• Freshman Lucy Dieterlen led the defense with 17 digs. Junior Emilie Hatje (Middlefield, Conn.) added six digs of her own with two aces. 
• The Hawks out hit the Falcons .217 to -.011 in the win with  36-20 kills advantage. 

Rapid Recap Mount Holyoke (L, 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 25-23)):

• The Lyons opened up a 8-4 set one lead after also defeating Fitchburg State in match two of the day. The Hawks would cut the deficit to 11-9, but Mount Holyoke used a late 6-0 run to lead 21-13. Johnson and senior Juliana Robinshaw (South Windsor, Conn.) sparked a 8-1 run to cut the Lyons lead to 22-21, but the visitors picked up the final three points to win set one 25-21. 
• In set two the teams were even at 8-8 with a pair of errors helping Hartford inch in front 10-9. The teams would trade runs yet again to keep the set close at 18-17. The Hawks would even the score at 20-20 but the Lyons came in clutch again winning 25-20. 
• The Lyons were up 7-4 in the third set before Hartford got the momentum behind two aces from Hatje to lead 8-7. Two Jo. Murphy kills kept the home team in front 16-13. Johnson would add two more kills in a three-point run as the Hawks led 20-15 late. Mount Holyoke tried to make a late run but two more kills for Je. Murphy and a closing kill by Robinshaw stole the third set 25-20. 
• The Lyons once again established control in the fourth set leading 9-5. A 9-1 run by Mount Holyoke added to the troubles for the Hawks as the lead was 18-9. Hartford responded with a 5-1 advantage with two more kills for Je. Murphy. Another 7-1 run from the Hawks had the set within 22-21, but the Lyons closed it out 25-23.

Inside the Numbers: 

• Je. Murphy had another 10 kills on a .421 percentage with a solo block and three other assisted. Jo. Murphy added 11 more kills to go with three digs. Robinshaw had a stellar showing with nine kills and seven digs. 
• Connally led the passing effort with 20 more assists to go with seven digs.
• Dieterlen was a star in the second match with 30 digs to lead the defense. Cosby and Hatje each added 10. 
• The Lyons were out shot by Hartford .103-.100 but held a 46-36 kills advantage. 

Up Next:
The Hawks will host Albertus Magnus College on September 12th in a single match in Chase Arena. 

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