ONEONTA, NY - Hartwick split its two matches at the Elmira College Invitational on Friday night at Speidel Gymnasium. The Hawks dropped the opener to the host Soaring Eagles in three sets, 25-9, 27-25, 25-19, but recovered to score a 3-1 victory over Utica, 25-15, 25-9, 22-25, 25-8.

Against Elmira, the Hawks played well defensively but struggled on offense as they notched 38 digs and 11 blocks but just 14 kills in the match. Junior Courtney Desmond (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson), playing in her first match of the season, notched eight blocks and Britney Lintner (Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) and Christina Vitale (Port Jefferson Station, NY/St. John the Baptist) each had eight digs. Junior Lauren Mausert (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) recorded a team-high six kills and added six digs.

In the second match of the night, the Hawks rolled in the first two sets before letting down in and allowing the Pioneers to win set three. Hartwick turned it up in the fourth set and blew away UC for its first victory of 2010. Mausert, and freshmen Kelly Sprengel (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) and Katie Ryan (Circleville, NY/Pine Bush) each contributed nine kills for the Hawks. Vitale and Mausert combined for 15 digs, Lintner dished out 35 assists, and Mickey Coons (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall) registered eight service aces.

The Hawks are back in action tomorrow against Hilbert and Houghton to conclude play at the Elmira Invitational.