SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 22, 2025) – The Western New England women's volleyball team was taken down in Conference of New England (CNE) play on Wednesday night at the hands of the Hawks of the University of Hartford, falling in straight sets, 3-0. 

Records:

• Western New England: 9-14, 2-4 CNE
• University of Hartford: 6-12, 2-5 CNE

How it Happened:

First Set:

• The opening 12 points were split between the two teams in what looked to be an evenly played match to begin play. Neither team carried bigger than a two-point lead in the set until Hartford ripped off six points in a row. Western New England took an 8-6 lead on a kill from Adrionne Sharp, but the Hawks put down the next six, getting a pair of kills, one from Lauren Johnson and another from Jordan Murphy to jump out in front,12-8.
• The Hawks notched nine of ten points overall in the opening set .to climb back in, as Leah Warren and Rachel Critz each picked up a kill while the serving of Olivia Long helped the Golden Bears rally, trailing 16-13. Hartford then earned the next four points and put away the Golden Bears in the set. 
• Charlei Henkel produced a service ace, while Deana Baez and Critz combined for a block, looking to spark the Golden Bears back into the set, but another run of four straight from Hartford gave the Hawks a 25-16 opening set victory, leading 1-0 in the match. The Hawks put down 13 kills and had just three errors over 26 attacks in the set. WNE picked up seven kills and five errors overall. 

Second Set:

• The set opened in WNE's favor as Leah Warren dropped in a pair of kills from Deana Baez, but another Hawks run, this time early in the set, gave Hartford five in a row to go ahead 6-3. The Golden Bears battled their way back into the match quickly, as Evelyn Taylor produced a service ace that brought WNE back within one, 7-6. 
• The match of runs saw Hartford pick up three straight points and four out of five before WNE came up with the next three, a kill and ace from Morgan Bonin, trailing 11-10. Western New England eventually tied the match at 14 after Critz smashed a kill and produced five straight points for the Golden Bears on kills, giving the blue and gold a 16-15 lead. The lead was short-lived, however, as Hartford rattled off 10 of the final 11 points of the set in a shocking turn of events, as WNE fell 25-17 in the set and 2-0 in the match. 
• WNE produced a match-high nine kills in the second set but had six errors. Hartford notched 11 kills and just three errors, hitting .276 overall.

Third Set:

• The Hawks opened the third set with a 4-1 lead and never lost the lead from there, despite Western New England having multiple chances to start a scoring run. The Golden Bears went down by as many as five in the early goings of the set as Hartford continued to play offense well, including Jordan Murphy, who led the Hawks in kills on the night. 
• Morgan Bonin and Rachel Critz combined for a block to spark a run of four of the next five points going WNE's way, all errors for the Hawks, bringing the Golden Bears within one, 11-10. Hartford then ripped off four in a row at 12-11, extending its lead to five again, 16-11. Charlei Henkel dropped in a pair of kills in a row for the blue and gold that again brought WNE back within one, 16-15. 
• Hartford took exception to the Golden Bears getting close and ripped off eight of the final ten points of the match, including six in a row as WNE got within one, dropping the blue and gold in a three-set sweep, winning the set 25-18 and the match 3-0. 

Inside the Lines:

• Rachel Critz led WNE with eight kills on 15 attacks in the match and also recorded three blocks. 
• WNE hit a tick over .000 for the match, dropping down 23 kills and had 21 errors. 
• The Hawks put together one of their best offensive performances of the season on Wednesday night, led by Jordan Murphy, who collected 11 kills, 11 digs, and a block. Juliana Robinshaw was also in double figures in kills with ten for Hartford. 
• This is the first sweep by either team in the three total meetings between the two teams. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• CNE play continues for the Golden Bears as they travel to the University of New England on Saturday, October 25 for a 5:00 PM match.