University of Connecticut Athletics
Women's Volleyball Falls to Hofstra, 3-0
9/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, Conn. (September 14, 2007) - The University of Connecticut women's volleyball team fell to Hofstra 3-0 (31-29, 30-23, 30-23) in the Huskies' first match of the UConn Toyota Classic, Friday night in Gampel Pavilion.
Connecticut picked up an early 5-2 lead in the first game of the night but Hofstra, led by the stellar serving of Harmonie Calinda, took over the led with a 9-0 run. The Huskies were able to battle back into the game, tying the score at 23-23 on a Pride hitting error. Connecticut was able to take the lead back as they went ahead 26-24 on a kill by sophomore Kate Seabaugh (St. Louis, Mo.). But the Pride took the game right out of the hands of the host team as a hitting error by the Huskies followed by a service ace from Hofstra's Lauren Engle sealed the game one victory.
Game two was also an even battle with the score tying eight times. But Hofstra's 24.4 hitting percentage beat out UConn's 15.0-percent, which helped toward the 30-23 win. In the third game, the Huskies lost control of the pace of the game as the Pride came out with a 12-1 run. The Huskies were able to break up the run with a kill from Megan Frey (Chaska, Minn.) to put the score at 12-2.
Connecticut, fighting to get back into the game, fell even deeper as three service errors put the Pride up 16-5. But the Huskies continued to fight, led by freshman Rebecca Murray (Carmel, Ind.) who recorded back-to-back kills before two hitting errors by Hofstra's Engle to put UConn back into the game and make the score 16-9. But the Huskies could not hold on, as they committed 13 hitting errors in 39 attempts, for a .051 hitting percentage in the final game of the night. Hofstra was able to end the match with a 30-23 game three victory.
UConn setter Bridget Denson-Dorman (Golden Valley, Minn.) dished out 41 assists and had 14 digs on the night while Seabaugh recorded six kills and six digs. Murray led the Huskies with 12 kills as libero Jessica Isaac (Erlanger, Ky.) had 18 digs.
Hofstra was led by Engle who finished with 14 kills while setter Sarah Lopez had 34 assists and 12 digs.
The first match of the night featured Middle Tennessee State defeating Long Island 3-0 (30-27, 30-21, 34-32). Ashley Mead led the way for the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee with 14 kills and three digs while Leslie Clark dished out 39 assists. Martina Wagner had 12 kills and nine digs in the loss for the Blackbirds.
The UConn Toyota Classic will kick back into action on Saturday morning as Middle Tennessee State will face Hofstra in a 10:00 a.m. match-up followed by a 12:30 p.m. match featuring UConn and Long Island. After a short break, Hofstra will see Long Island at 5:00 p.m. while UConn will finish up weekend play with a 7:30 p.m. match against Middle Tennessee State.
