By Everett Ramon Burris
Assis. Sports Editor
UMBC’s women’s volleyball team fell short against America East foe University of Hartford this past Sunday, bringing their America East Conference record to 4-6 and overall record to 10-13.
The Retrievers received a strong performance by junior Sherelle Walker who gave them 13 kills, one block, and one assist. The stellar performance would not be enough to pull out the victory though as Hartford ran off three set victories in a row to take the match 3-1.
The first set saw the Retrievers display their trademark fight and grit as they went on a 5-1 run and then staved off a Hartford comeback attempt. Senior Hannah Schmidt took the set for the Retrievers with a solo block, ending it 27-25.
Hartford would be at the ready in the second set, hitting UMBC with a 6-3 charge, then after a few back and forth points surging ahead again with a 7-1 run. UMBC would not be able to catch up and ultimately loss the set 25-17.
Both teams made just the right adjustments after the intermission as they came out hot and challenged each other to the best two sets of the night.
First UMBC came out barking and took a bite out of Hartford’s momentum as they went up 6-3. Hartford then returned the quick advance and went on a 7-3 run resulting in a 10-10 tie. Local product senior Kristen Cooper led the Retrievers in the battle of this set but Hartford’s Maya Louis and Sareeta Nethersole would put return a block that would win the set 25-22.
In what would be the final set of the match Hartford jumped out on the Retrievers 6-1. UMBC would storm back into though match though, once again displaying the tough grit that coach Ian Blanchard has worked hard to instill in his team, and they would dissolve Hartford’s lead to one point. UMBC wouldn’t be able to find the next four points needed to win and Hartford took the set 25-22, simultaneously giving Hartford the match 3-1.
The loss, although not ideal, is not completely devastating to the Retrievers America East postseason hopes. UMBC is only two games out of fourth place, the lowest seeding allowed in the conference tournament.
The Retrievers will have a week to prepare for their final two matches of the regular season. First they will take on Binghamton Nov. 14, then they will close out the regular season against Albany Nov. 16. Both matches will be held at the Retriever Activities Complex, where the team has struggled with a 1-5 record.