Durham, N.H.—The UMBC volleyball team fell 3-0 at New Hampshire on Friday. The Retrievers were led by junior Krystal Mlemchukwu (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech), who had 11 kills in the match. The loss drops the Retrievers to 9-11, 3-4 AE on the year.

The first stanza saw the Retrievers race ahead to a 4-1 lead behind kills from Mlemchukwu. The Wildcats would answer back, cutting the deficit to just two, and eventually take the lead at 9-8. UMBC found themselves just down one at 11-10, before New Hampshire put together a 6-0 run that put them ahead for good in the set. The Wildcats went on the win the opener 25-17.

Set two saw the Retrievers fall behind 3-0 early, but climb their way back into it. UMBC brought it back to an 8-8 tie thanks to a kill by freshman Paola Rojas (San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame).  That ignited a mini 3-0 run that ended with a kill from sophomore Ivana Kostic (Belgrade, Serbia/Srednja Skola Grocka), forcing a New Hampshire timeout at 12-9.

The timeout would be all the Wildcats needed, as they then went on a run of their own, 7-0 that pushed them ahead 17-13.  UMBC would fight back late, but the Wildcats held on to take the second, 25-20.

UNH would come out in the third set swinging, but the Retrievers had an answer for every run early on. It was a late 6-1 run that propelled the Wildcats ahead 16-11. From there New Hampshire only gave up five points, en route to a 25-16 third set win.

Mlemchukwu paced the Retriever attack with 11 kills. Fellow junior Sherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) chipped in seven kills, along with one block. Junior setter Paige Miller (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) added 22 helpers in the loss.

The Retrievers are back in action on Sunday, October 26 when they travel to UMass Lowell. First serve with the River Hawks is set for 12:00 p.m.