UTICA, NY – Hartwick fell behind by a set but won the final three to take a 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-20) victory at Utica College on Tuesday night. With the win, the Hawks improve to 5-13 overall and 1-2 in the Empire 8.
Hannah Armstrong (Lansing, NY/Lansing),
Kayla Baril (Seekonk, MA/Seekonk) and
Taylor Vonasek (Willington, CT/E.O. Smith) combined for 36 of the Hawks' 41 kills on the night. Armstrong registered a double-double with a match-high 15 kills and 15 digs. Baril contributed a double-double of 12 kills and 15 digs, and Vonasek added nine kills and three blocks.
The Hawks fell behind immediately in the first set and had to play catch-up the whole way. They narrowed the gap to 23-20, and again, 24-21, but the hosts would close it out to take the one-set lead.
Hartwick grabbed the advantage in the second set and following a 13-12 deficit, never trailed again. The Hawks built a six-point edge, 23-17, and a kill from
Rachel Jones (West Charlton, NY/Galway) and an ace from
Jamie Reidy (Elmira, NY/Horseheads) tied the match at 1-1.
The third set was a slightly tighter affair until a Utica error put the Hawks up to stay at 14-13. Hartwick built a five-point lead, 21-16, before UC got two straight points. A Baril kill got the Hawks' to the 22-point mark and three consecutive Pioneers attacking errors gave the Hawks a 2-1 advantage.
The Hawks scored eight of the first nine points in the third set to take command. Utica rallied to trim the gap to two, 10-8, but 'Wick scored 10 of the next 13 points to pull away for the win.
Reidy would finish with 27 assists for the Hawks. She was the third Hawk on the night with a double-double as she ended the match with 14 digs.
Alyssa Zeitler (Chardon, OH/Berkshire) recorded a team-best 21 digs. Jones ended the night with nine blocks.
Utica was led by Brandi Blaszak who had 14 kills. Lora Allen delivered 37 assists and Alexis Lyon notched 31 digs.
The Hawks host the Hartwick/Holiday Inn Tournament beginning on Friday. The Hawks host SUNY Delhi at 2 p.m. and Union at 6 p.m.
