WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Sophomore Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) notched her team-leading seventh double-double of the year with 16 kills and 10 digs as the UMBC volleyball team swept Hartford 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 27-25), Friday night in America East action at the Sports Center.  Schmidt had now recorded two double-doubles in her last three matches after picking up her fifth of the season last Friday against New Hampshire.

"I'm really proud of the effort we gave tonight," said head coach Ian Blanchard.  "Hartford is always a tough place to play, especially against such and improved squad."

Six other Retrievers notched at least two kills, led by freshman Sherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) who registered nine, as junior Mallory McIntyre (Winnepeg, Manitoba/St. Mary's Academy) handed out 40 assists.

Junior Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin) led UMBC (9-12, 2-2 AE) with 14 digs while seniorAli Loynachan (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair) was also in double figures, scooping up 13 digs.

Sareeta Nethersole was the only Hawk in double-digit kills with 11 and Dionna Kirton led Hartford (6-13, 0-3 AE) with 13 digs.

The hosts took the initiative in the opening frame, winning the first four points and held off the Retrievers until Schmidt served two straight aces to give UMBC its first lead 10-9.  Hartford tied the set on the next point, but fell behind again on a kill by Loynachan, and could never recover. Leading 19-15, the Retrievers ran off five of the next six points to get to set point, then held off a brief rally before putting the set away on a kill by freshman Krystal Mlemchukwu (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech).

The Retrievers regained the momentum on that point, and started the second set well as junior Robbin Lee (Olney, Md./Sherwood) served two aces and Walker recorded a kill to give UMBC the lead 3-0.  After four straight Hawk points, the Black and Gold recovered, taking hold of the set with an 8-0 run to lead the frame 13-5.  UMBC then held off several Hawk rallies to put away the set 25-14.

The third set was the most competitive with six ties and four lead changes, but it did not show early as the visitors staked to an 8-4 lead following an attack error.  Hartford slowly chipped away at the lead and took the advantage, 21-20, on a service ace by Kirton.  Hartford took the lead again and had a set point at 25-24, but UMBC won the next three to close out the match with a 27-25 third set win.

UMBC now stays on the road for the remainder of the weekend as the squad travels to Upstate New York to face Albany on Sunday.  The Retrievers and Great Danes are set to begin play at University Auditorium at 2 p.m.

DAWG BITES

-          UMBC now leads the all-time series with Hartford 19-2 and has won 16 of the last 17 matchups.

-          Schmidt has now recorded double-digit kills in each of the last four matches and has 52 kills in America East play this season.

-          Walker's nine kills came on 23 attempts with zero errors as the freshman hit .391 against Hartford.