UMBC

Ashley Hargrove tallied five service aces as the Retrievers recorded 11 in their win over Hartford.

Megan Gross recorded a double-double with 47 assists and 14 digs on Friday night.

Hartford, Conn. – The UMBC women’s volleyball team recorded a 3-1 (30-26, 25-30, 30-18, 30-24) victory on Friday night over Hartford (8-10, 0-2 AE) in America East Conference volleyball action.  The Retrievers (7-11, 1-2 AE) were led by a double-double from Megan Gross (Montclair, Va./Forest Park) and 17 kills from freshman Sarah Ball (Winnipeg, Canada/Sisler).

The Retrievers opened the first game to a 6-1 lead with back-to-back service aces from Ashley Hargrove (Covington, Wash./Kentwood) and a kill from Ball. Hartford battled to take their first lead at 14-13 on an attack error from Ball. Hartford extended their lead to 17-13 but fell victim in the remaining points as the Retrievers took advantage in the end on back-to-back kills from Ball.

The Retrievers tallied their worst hitting percentage of the match in set two, tallying 10 errors and 12 kills for a .048 hitting percentage.  Hartford took a 12-9 lead and increased it through out the match, opening up a 27-20 advantage before Jennifer Monroy finished the match at 30-25 with a kill, one of her match-high 19. 

With the match tied at one, the Retrievers came out strong in the third game quickly extending their lead to 11, 19-8, on a Hargrove ace. Hargrove provided the biggest rally for the Retrievers with a 10-point service, which included two aces. UMBC behind 16 kills, one error and a .429 set three hitting percentage easily took game three, 30-18.

The Retrievers looked to finish off the Hawks early in the fourth set, taking a 9-1 advantage on eight-straight points during Christine Skala’s (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale South) service. UMBC went a head 20-12 and held off a late Hawk charge to finish the match with a set four win at 30-24.

Jessie Folk (S. Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) tallied 11 kills and a .348 hitting percentage making three errors on 23 total attacks.  Gross notched the double-double with 47 assists and 14 digs while Skala hit the 20-plus digs mark for the ninth time this season with 20 digs.  The Retrievers recorded 11 service aces, five by Hargrove, who also finished with seven kills, three digs and three blocks. 

UMBC returns to action at home against Stony Brook on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.