UNH Splits Final Day Matches at Harvard Invitational

Saturday, September 7

Cambridge, Mass.

10 AM

University of New Hampshire

3-2,0-0America East

Stonehill

1-5,0-0NEC

Stonehill

New Hampshire

9/7/2024 9:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Wildcats Win vs. Stonehill, 3-0, Then Fall to Harvard, 3-2

Baton Rouge, La. – The University of New Hampshire volleyball team split the final two matches of the Harvard Invitational on Saturday. UNH swept Stonehill, 3-0, in the early match and then fell 3-2 to Harvard in the evening.

The set scores vs. Stonehill were 27-25, 25-16, 25-16. The set scores vs. Harvard were 25-10, 25-19, 21-25, 23-25, 11-15.

In the opener, graduate student captain Kelly Kaufmann (Raleigh, N.C.) led UNH's attack with eight kills for 11 points and a .727 hitting percentage; she also recorded seven digs. senior captain hitter Hannah Serbousek (Fort Collins, Colo.) was up there with her with eight kills and 8.5 points on a .429 hitting percentage; she also had a team-leading 13 digs. UNH used two primary setters as Sophomore Jessica Shattles (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) finished with a team-high 26 assists and Freshman Ellery Singleton (Menlo Park, Calif.) had 13.

Later against Harvard, Serbousek led the way once again with 15 kills with 18 points. Junior right-side hitter Meredith Hohnbaum (Indianapolis, Ind.) was next with 14 kills and 16 points. Shattles recorded 28 assists and Singleton had 17. LePore led the 'Cats in digs with 21.

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action Friday, Sept. 13 at the Texas A&M Invitational against Louisiana at 4:30 p.m.
The Wildcats home opener is Thursday, Sept. 19 (6 p.m.) against UConn

vs. Stonehill
SET 1

Senior captain Shea Purcell (Shaker Heights, Ohio) kicked things off for the Wildcats with a kill to go up 1-0.
It was not long before Stonehill took control with a commanding 10-6 run.
- Kills from Purcell, sophomore middle blocker Rachel Grier (Dublin, Calif.), and Kaufmann kept UNH in within striking distance.
A 5-3 run put the Skyhawks up by their largest lead of five. Junior outside hitter Lindsey Kriendler (Houston, Texas) responded with her first two kills of the season.
Although UNH stuck with Stonehill they remained down 24-22 with their backs against the wall.
A kill from Kriendler sparked four straight Wildcat points to give them their first lead since 3-2.
Stonehill tied the score at 25 but the Wildcats completed their electric comeback with a kill from Serbousek and a block from senior captain Marisa Armer (Bradenton, Fla.) and Kaufmann. (27-25)

SET 2

The Wildcats took all their momentum into set two as Stonehill's only lead was 1-0.
UNH's largest lead was 11 points at 18-7.
Freshman Setter Ellery Singleton (Menlo Park, Calif.) recorded two aces and a kill.
Junior outside hitter/defensive specialist Millie Grove (Warrington Pa.) recorded her first kill of the season.
The 'Cats had two stretches of four consecutive points in a commanding set that put them up 2-0.

SET 3

Set three was no different than the second as they began the scoring 6-0. Armer, Kaufmann, and Serbousek recorded kills. (Kaufmann and Serbousek also recorded a block).
The 'Cats never lost their lead and the closest that Stonehill brought the deficit was four points for the remainder of the match.
Kaufmann recorded three kills and two blocks. Grier tallied two blocks and two kills. Serbousek had a block and two kills. Kriendler recorded a block and a kill.
Redshirt sophomore middle blocker/hitter Evelyn Brenton put the cap on the match with her first kill of the season to finish out set three 25-16.

vs. Harvard
SET 1

Shattles and Senior outside hitter Ezgi Karabulut (Ankara, Turkey) got the wheels turning for the 'Cats as they came out firing with a 13-3 lead.
- Shattles began with an ace and Karabulut followed up with two of her own along with a kill.
- Hohnbaum recorded three kills and Serbousek knotted two.
Harvard worked to try and get back into the set but kills from Karabulut and Marmer did not help their case.
A kill from Hohnbaum and another ace from Shattles put the 'Cats up 18-6.
UNH went on a 7-4 run to wrap up set one with a 15-point advantage (25-10). Serbousek and Grier tallied a kill. Grier, Serbousek, and Hohnbaum recorded a block.

SET 2

UNH did not slow down in set two as they began with a 7-2 lead.
- Kaufmann recorded two kills, and Serbousek and Hohnbaum recorded one.
- LePore dropped back-to-back aces.
Harvard was able to tie the match up at nine and 11 but the 'Cats remained stout.
A Karabulut kill and an error from Harvard put the Wildcats back up by two.
Kills from Grier and Hohnbaum among Harvard errors made up a 4-3 run by the 'Cats to put them up 17-14.
Harvard went on a a 4-0 run to take their first lead since 1-0 (18-17). The 'Cats responded quick with a 4-0 of their own to retake a 21-18 lead.
- Karabulut had two kills and Serbousek had one.
A block by Grier and Karabulut sparked the final 4-1 run for UNH that gave them a 2-0 set lead (25-19).

SET 3

Harvard flipped the script in set three and started off strong with an 8-3 lead.
The Wildcats played from behind the entire match however they were unsuccessful at completing the comeback.
Three kills Hohnbaum, two from Grier and Armer, along with one from Karabulut and Serbousek made up the comeback attempt.
The Crimson won the set 25-21 to trim the match to 2-1.

SET 4

Two kills by Serbousek started the fourth set off but Harvard responded with a run that made the score 7-3.
UNH fought back with two kills from Armer, and one from Karabulut to trim the defecit to three points (9-6).
The Crimson knocked down three points to go up 12-6 but the Wildcats responded with seven consecutive points to take their first lead since 2-1.
- Hohnbaum and Kaufmann recorded two blocks and Serbousek recorded one.
- Serbousek recorded two more kills.
The two teams traded points until Harvard scored four consecutive points to force a timeout from the 'Cats at 20-17.
UNH made an effort to battle back with an ace from shattles and kills from Hohnbaum and Kaufmann to tie it at 21 but Harvard remained strong and tied the match at two (25-23).

SET 5

Set five was neck and neck as kills from Serbousek and Hohnbaum helped the 'Cats knot the score at four.
Karabulut and Grier gave the 'Cats their first lead of the set at 6-5 with a block. But Harvard tallied a 5-1 run to retake a 10-7 lead.
LePore and Hohnbaum recorded a kill and Karabulut served an ace to tie the match back up at 11. But Harvard ran away with five straight points to win the match 3-2.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

UNH finished their match vs. Stonehill with the edge in hitting percentage (.5 to .357), kills (45-41) and aces (4-2).
- The Wildcats and Skyhawks recorded seven blocks a piece.
- New Hampshire also led in digs, 48-36.
UNH finished their match vs. Harvard with the edge in hitting percentage (.216 to .211), kills (56-54) and aces (11-4).

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