Montclair, NJ – On Tuesday evening, the women's volleyball team took on the Red Hawks of Montclair State University in a non-conference matchup. Despite winning the first set, the Hawks were outlasted by the hosts, falling in the next three sets to drop the match, 3-1. The loss sets Hunter's record to 16-11 while Montclair moves to 19-7.
 
Statistically, the Hawks outmatched their counterparts in kills (47 to 43), assists (43 to 40) and digs (51 to 49) but committed 11 more errors which held them back in the latter sets of the game. The Purple and Gold had big games from Julia Connolly, Samantha Barrett and Taylor Kerr-Haiduk. The trio each achieved double-digit kills and combined for 45 of the team's 47 total kills. Breanna Banske posted a game high 39 assists while Haley Trunkett accomplished the same feat with 15 digs.
 
The first set was played even throughout and featured a total of 14 ties. The hosts building a slim three point margin at the 10-7 mark, but it was quickly erased with two straight Hawk points. Hunter, playing a point or two behind for most of the set, used a 4-0 run to put a three point gap on their opponents, making it 21-18. Montclair came back to level the playing field at the 21^st and 22^nd point but a Red Hawk attack error coupled with two kills from Kerr-Haiduk capped the 25-23 set win for coach Alyssa Broccoli and her squad, giving them the 1-0 lead.
 
Montclair ripped off a 5-0 lead to start the second and then later found themselves up 13-7. Kills from Connolly and Barrett and a Madison Maute attack error cut the deficit to three but the Red Hawks closed the second set with a 12-5 run to win 25-18 and make it a 1-1 game.
 
In the third set, Montclair's Rebecca Matasker opened with a kill and her team never looked back. A 6-0 run set Hunter back by 10 but they chopped away at the deficit to pull within three points at the 22-19 mark. However, they ran out of room as the Red Hawks closed the set with three straight points to win 25-19 and take a 2-1 lead.
 
In the fourth and final set, the teams were locked at 11-11 until Montclair unraveled a crippling 5-0 run in which the Hawks were unable to bounce back from. A Banske kill in the latter stages of the set gave Hunter their 17^th point but it's as far as they would get with Montclair closing with a 25-17 win.
 
Hunter is back in action on Thursday, October 20 when they take on the College of Staten Island in a CUNYAC matchup set to take place at the Sportsplex at 6pm. The game will also mark the celebration of Senior Night. There will be a pep rally starting at 4pm tomorrow leading up to the game.