Babson Park, MA - The women's volleyball team took on the #17 nationally ranked Babson Beavers (28-1) on Friday afternoon in the first of their three-match weekend road swing. Despite a close first set, the Hawks (12-16) were blanked, 3-0 and fell by scores of 25-23, 25-20 and 25-10.

Hunter's offense was powered by Mariam Ouattara who hammered home a game-high 12 kills with a .391 hitting percentage. Kylie Hurst and Curran Murray chipped in with a combined 11 kills while Justine Smith had setting duties and accounted for 29 assists. Defensively, Hurst and Vanessa Sanchez each tallied 12 digs apiece while Ouattara and Isabelle Lawrence had an even split of six block assists.

The first set was evenly played until Hunter found themselves up at the 16-12 mark. However, Babson leveled the playing field with four unanswered points to make it even at 16. Down the stretch, another 3-0 Beaver run gave the hosts a late lead at 21-20. Despite two late back-to-back kills from Ouattara to bring them within a point, Babson's Kristin Carosotto earned the set point to put Hunter in a 0-1 hole. 

In the second, a mid-set 8-1 Babson run put the Hawks in a six-point hole at 15-9. However, Lawrence's kill sparked a 5-1 comeback that brought them within striking distance and to within three late at 23-20. However, it fell just shy as the hosts secured their second set victory and threatening a three-set sweep.

Things did not go the Hawk's way in the third as they fell behind from the get-go after a crippling 8-0 Babson run. They struggled offensively and could not stop the bleeding, ultimately falling 25-10.

The Hawks return to action on Saturday when they face Colby at 2:30 and #14 Tufts at 5pm to close out the regular season.