LOWELL, Mass. -- Junior outside hitter Madi Bell (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) totaled a team-best 11 kills for the UMass Lowell Volleyball team in the 3-0 loss to Hartford on Sunday afternoon at Costello Athletic Center in America East play. The set scores were 19-25, 21-25 and 21-25. 

The River Hawks fall to 1-15 overall (0-3 AE) after the loss, while Hartford ups its record to 8-7 overall and 1-2 in America East matches.

"It was a big improvement from Friday night, they brought a lot more energy and were very focused," said Head Coach Resa Provanzano. "They were really thinking about doing their job on every single point, so that was good to see."

Bell added an impressive team-high .476 hitting percentage, to go along four digs and three total blocks for UMass Lowell. Sophomores Grace Burkett (Lakeside, Calif.) and Morgan Given (Orlando, Fla.) each posted five total blocks apiece.

Senior middle blocker Lade Adeniyi (Springfield, Ill.) and freshman outside hitter Kate Bilyeu (Omaha, Neb.) each chipped in with seven kills in the losing effort. Adeniyi also hit at a .214 clip and recorded five total blocks. Junior outside hitter Lisa Bean (Dover, N.H.) set career-highs with six kills and four digs in her first career start for the River Hawks.

UMass Lowell tied set two at 18-18 on a huge block from Bell and Burkett, but could not keep in the momentum in the second frame. The River Hawks had a team-best 14 kills in the opening stanza and posted 13 kills in the final set, to go along with a team-best .294 hitting percentage. UMass Lowell posted nine kills and hit at a .250 clip in the second set. 

Hartford was led offensively by Jenna Bridges, who recorded a match-high 16 kills, while Alex Lucero amassed a match-high 21 digs on defense for the Hawks.

UMass Lowell returns to the court on Friday, October 5th at Binghamton in America East play. Match time is 7 p.m. from West Gym in Vestal, N.Y. 

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