University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
6-8, 0-0AE
University of Rhode Island
9-3, 0-0 A-10
Hirschinger Records 700th Career Win, Volleyball Splits a Pair to Wrap Up Holly Young Invitational
9/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
DURHAM, N.H. -- University of New Hampshire head volleyball coach Jill Hirschinger earned her 700th career victory as the Wildcats split the final day of the Holly Young Invitational at Lundholm Gymnasium on Saturday.
The five-set against the University of Rhode Island marked the 700th career win for Hirschinger. Now in her 36th year as a head coach, Hirschinger owns a 700-517-10 career record, including a 291-280 mark in 19 seasons at UNH. She is now one of 12 active coaches in Division I women's volleyball to tally 700 career wins.
New Hampshire went the distance against (23-25, 25-20, 26-24, 26-28, 15-12) and fell to New Mexico State University in straight sets (18-25, 24-26, 12-25). UNH's record now stands at 6-9 on the season.
UNH's last win against Rhode Island dates back to Aug. 25, 2007 in a three-set sweep (30-19, 30-21, 30-16) on the campus of Colgate University.
Two players notched double-double efforts in the victory over Rhode Island. Junior right side hitter Brenna Buckwalter (Evergreen, Colo.) notched her first career double-double effort with 15 kills and 10 digs. Senior setter Taylor Dunklau (Mukwonago, Wis.) tallied 49 assists and 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Junior outside hitters Tori Forrest (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Abby Brinkman (Brecksville, Ohio) eclipsed double figures in kills with 13 and 12 respectively. Junior defensive specialist Madison Lightfoot (Clarkston, Mich.) scooped up a match-high 30 digs to anchor the backline.
In the "Pack the Arena Night" match against New Mexico State in front of a season-high attendance of 564, Forrest paced the offense with nine kills. Brinkman slammed down eight kills of her own as well as six digs. Dunklau dished out 24 assists and added nine digs. Lightfoot led the defense with 13 digs.
New Hampshire and Rhode Island opened the match knotted at the 10 mark. The Rams jetted ahead to take a 15-11 edge midway through the set. UNH retailed with a 7-3 surge to level the score at 18 apiece. Each side continued to exchange blows as the score rose to 23-23. The Rams grabbed the last two points of the set to take the first frame.
The Rams and Wildcats tenaciously fought for the early advantage in the second frame as the two sides traded the first 16 exchanges. New Hampshire engineered a 7-3 run to take a 15-11 advantage. URI came back with back-to-back points to cut UNH's lead in half. The 'Cats halted the Rams momentum, rattling off six of the next seven points to own a 21-14 lead. URI made it a nail-biter, reducing the deficit down to three at 23-20. Despite Rhode Island's efforts, a Brinkman kill followed by a Buckwalter ace lifted the Wildcats to the second set win.
Neither team could gain control of the third set early as the two sides were even at 9-9. The Wildcats zoomed ahead with an 8-3 run to lead 17-12, forcing Rhode Island to call timeout. URI rallied in the late portion of the frame, narrowing UNH's lead down to one at 22-21. After a stoppage by the Wildcats, the Rams managed to tie the set at the 24 mark. However, a Forrest kill followed by a URI miscue clinched the third stanza for New Hampshire.
The fourth set featured 14 tied scores and two lead changes. New Hampshire held a slight 22-21 edge late in the stanza. Breaking out of a Rhode Island timeout, the Rams looked to extend the match to a fifth frame. URI wrestled the lead away from UNH, forcing set point. The Wildcats staved off set point twice. However, the Rams extended the match to a decisive fifth with a kill followed by a block.
The decisive set saw five lead changes and nine tied scores. New Hampshire's defense broke the deadlock at 11 as back-to-back blocks forced Rhode Island to call timeout. URI countered with a kill to trail 13-12. The Wildcats clinched the marathon match with the last two points, capped off by a block from junior middle blocker Cassidy Croci (Sylvania, Ohio) and Buckwalter.
In the tournament finale against New Mexico State, both sides featured powerful offenses to start the match. The Wildcats logged a .378 attack percentage in the first set. However, the Aggies bested the home team with a .485 clip. UNH and NMSU contested for an early advantage as the Aggies held a 13-12 advantage. New Mexico State stretched its lead to 19-15 with a 6-3 surge. Forrest and Croci kept the 'Cats close in the contest as the duo combined for nine kills in the stanza. However, the Aggies struck first to take the early match lead.
The Wildcats stood toe-to-toe with the Aggies in set two as the score was tied on 11 occasions. At the 16 mark, New Hampshire strung together a trio of points to lead 19-16 as New Mexico State opted to take a breather. The Aggies rallied late in the stanza, mustering a 5-2 surge to trail 21-20. UNH relinquished the lead but tied the match again at 24-24 with a Kym Gordon (Canandaigua, N.Y.) kill. Despite the Wildcats' efforts, New Mexico State grabbed the last two points to enter intermission with a 2-0 match lead.
NMSU bolted out of the gate in the third set, constructing a pair of lengthy runs to lead 14-2. Following a stoppage by UNH, the 'Cats countered with an 8-4 surge to trail 18-10. The deficit proved to be too much for New Hampshire as the squad could not rally to extend the match.
Players that were named to the Holly Young Invitational All-Tournament team consisted of: Franki Darnold (Rhode Island), Maddie Lord (Brown), Abby Brinkman (UNH), Madison Lightfoot (New Hampshire), Hannah Walker (New Mexico State), Sasha-Lee Thomas (New Mexico State) and Gwen Murphy (New Mexico State).
New Hampshire remains in Durham as it welcomes Harvard University to Lundholm Gymnasium for non-conference action on Wednesday, Sept. 24 (7 p.m.).
Please visit UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats via social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHWildcats), Twitter (@UNHWildcats), YouTube (www.youtube.com/UNHAthletics) and Instagram (@UNHWildcats) for the latest news and information on all 20 varsity sports. For additional information on the UNH volleyball team, like the squad on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHVolleyball) or follow the 'Cats on Twitter and Instagram at @UNHVOLLEYBALL.
