Volleyball Sweeps Hartford For Ninth Consecutive Win

Saturday, October 24

West Hartford, Conn.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

15-7, 7-0AE

University of Hartford

0-22, 0-7AE

New Hampshire

Hartford

The Wildcats have notched eight sweeps this season, including six in league contests.

Photo by: Greg Greene

10/24/2015 9:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- The first-place University of New Hampshire volleyball team extended its season-long winning streak to nine matches Saturday evening with a straight-set victory over the University of Hartford at Hartford Volleyball Arena.

The set scores were 25-16, 25-22 and 25-21.

New Hampshire ups its overall record to 15-7 and 7-0 in America East play. Hartford stumbles to 0-22, 0-7. UNH extends its conference unbeaten streak to 18 matches. The Wildcats have notched eight sweeps this season, including six in league contests.

Senior outside hitter Tori Forrest (Powder Springs, Ga.) recorded her team-leading 10^th double-double of the season on the strength of 13 kills and 10 digs. The co-captain also tallied three blocks and two service aces in the triumph. Classmate Abby Brinkman (Brecksville, Ohio) eclipsed double-digit kills with 10 to bolster the offense. Junior setter Keelin Severtson (Delray Beach, Fla.) turned in 30 assists, six digs and two aces. Senior defensive specialist and co-captain Madison Lightfoot (Clarkston, Mich.) anchored UNH's passing and back-row defense with 13 digs. Freshman middle blocker Gabri Olhava (Mount Prospect, Ill.) matched her career-high with five blocks. New Hampshire held Hartford to a .047 hitting percentage on the night.

The Hawks were led by a pair of 11-kill performances from outside hitters Katy Henchy and Paulina Modestow. Sophomore setter Astrid Mangual delivered a double-double effort of 26 assists and 13 digs. Junior defensive specialist Paola Lierandi scooped up a match-high 18 digs in the backcourt.

The Wildcats and Hawks were tied 8-8 out of the gate before New Hampshire opened the frame up with a 11-1 scoring barrage. Sophomore outside hitter Courtney Bowman (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) ripped two aces from the service line while senior outside hitter Maggie Kenney (Merrimack, N.H.), Brinkman and Forrest all notched kills in the run. UNH sealed the first set win with terminations from Forrest, Kenney and Brinkman combined with miscues by the Hawks. New Hampshire hit .391 in the frame while holding Hartford to a .000 attack percentage.

Hartford owned the early advantage in the second stanza, hitting the 10-point threshold first with a 10-6 lead. UNH stormed back by engineering an 8-2 surge to take a 14-12 lead, capped off by a Forrest slam. The Hawks wrestled their way back into the match, pulling within a point at 20-19 as the 'Cats opted to huddle. After conceding the next point, New Hampshire regained its composure. Forrest and Brinkman were able to land kills, swinging the momentum in favor of the visitors and forcing the Hawks to take a breather. UNH clinched the frame with a block by Olhava and Kenney combined with two hitting errors by Hartford and entered intermission with a 2-0 lead.

The Wildcats sparked out to a 6-2 lead out of gate in the decisive frame as Brinkman, Olhava and Forrest all chalked up terminations in the quick start. However, the Hawks would not fade away quietly despite a 2-0 deficit and slow start. Breaking out of an early timeout, Hartford countered with a 9-2 run as New Hampshire opted to make some adjustments looking up at a three-point deficit. UNH turned to Forrest to jumpstart the offense again, slugging four kills as part of a 7-4 response to knot the score at the 15 mark. Hartford continued to fight as the home team tallied three straight points to gain an 18-15 edge late in the set. After a second timeout by the 'Cats, the visitors were able to capitalize on several hitting errors by the Hawks to even the stanza at 19 apiece. Olhava broke the tie with a solo block. UNH followed with points from Brinkman, Forrest and Kenney to force match-point on the Hawks. The blue and white clinched the sweep off a service error from Hartford.

New Hampshire looks to strengthen its position atop the America East standings by hosting Binghamton University (Oct. 30; 7 p.m.) and the University at Albany (Nov. 1; 1 p.m.) to conclude the home regular season slate. The match against UAlbany is also Senior Day for the six-member class.

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