NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Fighting Owls travelled to New York for a tri match with FIT and Monroe College, and came away with a win and a loss from their efforts.

HARFORD VS FIT
In a commanding performance the Harford Community College volleyball team showcased their dominance with a straight-set victory over FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New Rochelle, New York. Harford secured the win with set scores of 25-14, 25-12, and 25-14, demonstrating their skill and teamwork on the court. 

The first set set the tone for the match as Harford Community College quickly took control, winning it with a score of 25-14. They demonstrated their offensive prowess with 11 kills while limiting FIT to just 2 kills. Harford's strong serving and blocking contributed to their early lead in the game.

Harford continued their dominance in the second set, securing a 25-12 victory. Their impressive attack continued with 13 kills, while FIT managed 6 kills. Morgan Barnett and Laura Piva led the way with kills and aces, putting pressure on the FIT defense.

The third set followed a similar pattern, with Harford taking it 25-14. FIT struggled to find their rhythm, managing only 4 kills in this set. Harford's balanced play and solid defense ensured they remained in control throughout the match.

Key Statistics:

• Points: Harford outscored FIT with a total of 58 points to18 points.

• Kills: Harford dominated in kills with 36 compared to FIT's 12.

• Aces: Harford had 17 aces, showcasing their strong serving game, while FIT managed 3 aces.

• Blocks: Harford displayed a solid blocking performance with 5 blocks, while FIT managed 1 block.

• Assists: Harford's team recorded 25 assists, showcasing their teamwork in setting up scoring opportunities.

• Digs: Harford's defense was exceptional, recording 38 digs compared to FIT's 23.

Game Leaders:

• Kills: Laura Piva led Harford with 13 kills, followed by Morgan Barnett with 9 kills.

• Aces: Morgan Barnett led in aces with 8, while Laura Piva contributed 5 aces.

• Blocks: Gianna Braxton and Kaja Szuba both had 3 blocks for Harford.

• Assists: Morgan Barnett led in assists with 19.

• Digs: Julia Hudson led Harford in digs with 18.

This victory improved Harford Community College's record to 3-1 for the season, while FIT's record fell to 0-2. 

HARFORD VS MONROE
In the second contest of the tri match, Harford Community College faced a tough opponent in Monroe College, but ultimately fell short, losing in straight sets with scores of 18-25, 7-25, and 14-25. Monroe College showcased their skills and experience on their home court, securing a convincing victory.

The opening set saw both teams vying for control, but Monroe College managed to secure a 25-18 victory. Harford showed promise early on, with 7 kills, but Monroe's strong attack with 16 kills and excellent hitting percentage allowed them to take the set.

Monroe College continued to dominate in the second set, winning it convincingly with a score of 25-7. Harford struggled to find their rhythm, recording only 4 kills in this set, while Monroe displayed a potent offense with 11 kills and a high hitting percentage.

The third set followed a similar pattern, with Monroe College sealing the match with a 25-14 victory. Harford continued to struggle, managing only 3 kills in this set. Monroe's well-rounded performance, including 14 kills, ensured they maintained their control over the match.

Key Statistics:

• Points: Monroe College outscored Harford with a total of 54 points to Harford's 22 points.

• Kills: Monroe dominated in kills with 41 compared to Harford's 14.

• Aces: Harford recorded 4 aces, while Monroe managed 11 aces.

• Blocks: Harford had 42 blocks, with Monroe recording 13 blocks.

• Assists: Morgan Barnett led Harford in assists with 10, while Martina Villani led Monroe with 24 assists.

• Digs: Julia Hudson led Harford in digs with 13, while Alessia Gallo had 17 digs for Monroe.

Game Leaders:

• Kills: Manon Braunsteffer led Monroe with 12 kills, followed by Gabriela Aimi Zuquelo with 11 kills.

• Aces: Monroe had several players with 3 aces each, including Doriangelis Serrano Reynoso, Martina Villani, and Alessia Gallo.

• Blocks: Harford's leaders in blocks included Damilola Fapohunda and Kaja Szuba with 3 blocks each.

• Assists: Morgan Barnett led Harford with 10 assists, while Martina Villani recorded 24 assists for Monroe.

• Digs: Julia Hudson led Harford with 13 digs, while Alessia Gallo contributed 17 digs for Monroe.

Next up, Harford heads to Montgomery College for a MDJUCO matchup.