The UMass Lowell River Hawks are now 1-6 against the Hartford Hawks. (Photo courtesy Bob Ellis)

by Hannah Manning
Connector Editor

UMass Lowell volleyball had an aggressive start on Saturday night, winning the first two sets, but ultimately lost their seventh straight game to Hartford in five sets. Their record fell to 5-10 overall, while snapping Hartford’s five-game losing streak.

In their first America East matchup of the 2016 season, the River Hawks fought tooth and nail against an energetic Hartford team. There were thirty-nine tie scores and fifteen lead changes in the five sets; the Hawks and River Hawks couldn’t stay off of each other’s backs.

Despite the unsatisfactory result, freshman outside hitter Madi Bell had a career night. She totalled sixteen kills and nineteen digs. Bell had 29% of the team’s total kills for the night, and only sophomore libero Lindsey Visvaldis had more digs than her at 22.

The River Hawks had at least ten kills in each of their sets, with fifty-five overall.

The first set appeared to foreshadow an early doom for the River Hawks. They dug themselves into a massive hole, trailing Hartford 11-6. But they were able to reassert themselves in the game by ending plays short. They scored five straight times to tie Hartford at thirteen.

The River Hawks, to the rapturous joy of many fans in the bleachers, took the first set 25-23.

“In the beginning of set one, we had a huge hole, and we fought back. I think it was a very good learning moment to be down by that many points and come back,” said Head Coach Resa Provanzano.

While they won the first two sets and appeared poised to take the third, the River Hawks had trouble keeping up with Hartford. There was a major momentum shift during the third set, where Hartford built a five point lead over the River Hawks, which was the first time since the first set that UMass Lowell had been down by so many points. The Hartford Hawks ended up taking the third set, 25-22.

“We needed to focus more on our play, to be real honest. Hartford had high energy and came out and played aggressive for every point, and we let it get us back on our heels,” said Coach Provanzano.

The Hartford Hawks were able to steal the third set, what could have been the win for UMass Lowell, because of some mistakes that were made by the River Hawks late in the set. Hartford scored their twenty-fourth point with UMass Lowell four points behind.

Hartford capitalized on the leads that they built throughout the third, fourth, and fifth sets. While the River Hawks would catch up and in some instances reclaim their lead, Hartford always came back in the end.

“We have to be able to stop the momentum [from changing], get refocused, reenergized, and in the fifth game, you got to play every point,” said Coach Provanzano.

The River Hawks were able to get some points by just touching the ball over the net, while Hartford took the approach of slamming it as hard as they could to the ground.

Hartford soared to a 22-15 lead in the fourth set, and although the River Hawks engineered a comeback to coming within three points of Hartford, they lost the fourth and tied the game.

Plays were more dynamic and the celebrations grandiose in the fifth and final set. Hartford players hollered upon grabbing another point, and the River Hawks were just as overjoyed to score.

Unfortunately, Hartford rocketed to a 13-8 lead in the fifteen-point set, and although the River Hawks did fight back to get to eleven points, they ultimately lost with a serve that came just short of sailing over the net and lengthening the game.

“Welcome to conference. Everybody is going to fight for a point, everyone wants to win… you can’t go on cruise control,” said Provanzano.

On a more positive note, Provanzano alluded to one of the River Hawks’ many strengths as a team.

“We started off the match serving really aggressive. If we can serve like that throughout the whole match, great things are going to happen,” said Provanzano.
The River Hawks will embark on a three-game road trip, but will return to Lowell on Oct. 9 for an America East contest against the University of Connecticut. The game will begin at 1 p.m. at the Costello Athletic Center.