Smith Leads Balanced Attack in 3-0 Win at Hartford

Sunday, October 28

West Hartford, CT

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

10-13, 6-3AE

University of Hartford

10-11, 3-6AE

NEW HAMPSHIRE

HARTFORD

Photo by: Meghan Murphy

10/28/2018 7:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Kennedi Smith (The Woodlands, Texas), Gabri Olhava (Mount Prospect, Ill.) and Hannah Petke (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) all recorded double digits in kills to lead the University of New Hampshire volleyball team to Sunday afternoon's 3-0 win against the University of Hartford at Hawks Volleyball Gym.

The set scores were 25-22, 26-24, 25-20.

Smith finished with a match-high 16 kills on a .412 hitting percentage. Olhava had 14 kills and a .344 hitting percentage, followed by Petke with 10 kills at .286.

Emma Patlovich (Lake Forest, Ill.) tallied 43 assists and directed UNH's offense to a .282 hitting percentage – the Wildcats' second-best mark of the season. Emily Tanski (Plymouth, Mich.) had a match-high 16 digs. Jenny Weston (Canton, Mass.) contributed 11 digs and two service aces.

Hartford was led by Jenna Bridges (16 kills), Brittany Braun (11 kills), Megan Anderson (33 assists) and Abby Nash (12 digs).

UNH completed the season sweep of Hartford to improve to 10-13 overall and 6-3 in America East. Hartford is 10-11, 3-6.

Up Next/Next Home Match

New Hampshire returns to action Nov. 2 (7 p.m.) at home against Binghamton University. The Pack the Arena match will be on ESPN3.
UNH's Senior Day is Nov. 4 (1 p.m.) vs. UMBC.
Purchase tickets for all home UNH volleyball matches online at unhwildcats.com, by calling (603) 863-4000 or at the box office.

Shop UNH: Check out UNHShop.com for the latest in official UNH Wildcats' merchandise.

SET 1

There were 15 ties and four lead changes in the first set.
With the score tied at 15, UNH went on a 4-1 run to build a 19-16 lead. Molly Wotton (Dover, N.H.) recorded three kills during the spurt.
Hartford closed within 19-18 but Wotton responded with another kill. The Hawks won three consecutive points to reclaim the lead, 21-20, and prompt UNH to call a timeout.
Petke and Olhava recorded back-to-back kills to put the Wildcats back in front, 22-21.
The home team won the next point to level the score, but two consecutive kills by Olhava and Weston's service ace closed out Set 1, 25-22.

SET 2

There were five ties and one lead change in the second set.
With the score tied at 3, Hartford won three straight points as part of a 5-1 surge that gave the Hawks an 8-4 lead.
Hartford won three of the next four points to build an 11-5 advantage.
New Hampshire trailed 14-8 before a 3-0 run trimmed the margin to three points.
UNH closed within 15-13 before the Hawks went on a 4-1 run to extend the lead to 19-14.
Trailing 21-17, a kill by Smith and two Hartford errors narrowed the gap to one point, 21-20.
The Hawks won the next point, but then the 'Cats won four consecutive points to hold a 24-22 advantage.
Hartford extended the set by winning the next two points, but then Smith's fifth kill of the set and another Hawks' attack error ended the set.

SET 3

There were eight ties and four lead changes in the third set. Smith helped close the match in straight sets with eight kills and no errors for a .571 hitting percentage in Set 3.
Trailing 7-4, Hartford reeled off four straight points to take its first lead of the set, 8-7, and extended the advantage to 14-10.
UNH responded with three consecutive kills to trim the deficit to one point, and then another 3-0 run leveled the score at 17.
The Hawks won the next point, but Smith and Patlovich answered with kills to put the 'Cats back ahead 19-18.
With the score tied at 20, a kill by Emma Tupa (Brecksville, Ohio) ignited a 5-0 run that closed out the set and match. Tupa had one more kill and Patlovich served two aces during the decisive spurt.

NOTEBOOK

UNH has won 12 straight in the series vs. Hartford and has a 45-3 lifetime record against the Hawks.
Seven of the last eight matchups have been decided in straight sets.
UNH has alternated wins and losses the past five matches.
The Wildcats improved to 6-4 on the road.
This was UNH's fifth straight-set win of the season.

For the most up-to-date information on the volleyball team, visit UNHWildcats.com. For additional information on the UNH volleyball team, like the squad on Facebook or follow the 'Cats on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @UNHVOLLEYBALL.