University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Harvard
Double-Double by Kirk Propels Volleyball over Harvard
9/8/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2009
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In a Tuesday night match at the Malkin Athletic Center, the University of Connecticut volleyball team (3-5) won in five sets at Harvard (2-2). For the second-consecutive match, sophomore Jordan Kirk (Plano, Texas) had a double-double in kills and digs. Against the Crimson, she recorded 12 kills and 13 digs.
Classmate Allison Nickel (Pittsford, N.Y.) contributed a career-high nine kills in the match with a .412 hitting-percentage, also a career-best. It was senior Chauntay Mickens (Germantown, Md.) who led the team in kills for the second time this season, totaling a season-high 15 against the Crimson.
Overall a balanced scoring effort led the Huskies to their first five-set victory of the 2009 season. Nine members of the Connecticut team that saw playing time in three or more sets recorded at least one kill against the Crimson.
After the first set, UConn had the lead winning its fifth first set of the year, out-scoring the Crimson by four (25-21). Harvard responded by taking the next two sets, including a narrow 25-23 victory in the second. The Huskies tied the match winning the fourth set (25-23) after dropping a 25-17 decision in the third.
The fifth set was tied at 10 and at 12 before UConn was able to put Harvard away with a 15-13 win to claim a 3-2 victory.
Connecticut out-blocked Harvard 24-8 as junior Rebecca Murray (Carmel, Ind.) led the way with 10 block assists. Murray aided the offense with three service aces in addition to nine kills. Sophomore Samantha Arriaran (Norco, Calif.) dished 41 of the 60 assists UConn recorded at Harvard.
The Huskies return to action this weekend in the Dayton Flyer Classic as they are set to take on the hosts Dayton on Friday at 7 p.m. UConn will face Creighton and Samford on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.
Game Notes
- Connecticut extends its winning streak against the Crimson to nine with Tuesday night's 3-2 victory.
- Jessica Isaac enters the top-10 in Connecticut career aces after serving one at Harvard. She now has 108 career service aces, totaling nine this season.
- Allison Nickel contributed nine kills in 17 attempts against the Crimson committing just two hitting errors. Nickel has been near perfect this season hitting just three errors in seven matches.
