LOWELL, Mass. – Despite strong overall performances by McKenna Bova (Corona, Calif.), Malia Randolph (McDonough, Ga.) and Madi Bell (Port St. Lucie, Fla.), the UMass Lowell volleyball team (3-18, 1-6 AE) dropped a match to New Hampshire (9-12, 5-2 AE) in three sets on Friday evening at Costello Athletic Center. The set scores were 25-23, 25-18 and 25-20.
 
Randolph tallied six kills and 20 assists, Bova added 16 assists and 10 digs, and Bell notched 10 digs and 11 kills with a .370 attacking percentage. Randolph also had a hand in five blocks for UMass Lowell.

"We went into this match with the goal of wanting to play each team in conference better than the time before, and I think we certainly played better against UNH than we did last time," said head coach Resa Provanzano.

The first set featured back-and-forth scoring, with the River Hawks nearly stealing the win. Bell secured a kill to bring the score to 23-24, but the Wildcats won the set after a ball handling error by UMass Lowell.
 
The second set featured a four-point scoring run by the River Hawks, when the team came from down 5-7 to up 9-7. The Wildcats came back and earned a few scoring runs of their own, though, and held on for the set two victory.
 
In the third set, UMass Lowell remained steadfast with UNH in control of match point with kills by Morgan Given (Orlando, Fla.) and Kate Bilyeu (Omaha, Neb.), but the Wildcats managed to secure the win.
 
UMass Lowell held the clear edge in blocks, with 15 blocks to UNH's four. Bell, Given, Aleyna Kennel (Monument, Colo.) and Erica Cappellino (Penfield, N.Y.) each tallied service aces for the River Hawks.
 
Up next, the River Hawks are on the road, taking on Hartford on October 26^th and Stony Brook on October 28^th.