CONCORD, N.H. – No. 8 NHTI Volleyball returns to the Dr. Goldie Crocker Wellness Center Saturday morning, hosting York County Community College at 11 a.m. in Yankee Small College Conference action.
The Lynx enter the matchup 8-2 overall and 5-2 in YSCC play, sitting third in the conference's East Division. NHTI was ranked No. 8 in the latest USCAA Division II Coaches Poll released Wednesday.
NHTI will look to bounce back following Wednesday's three-set loss to Central Maine Community College, which handed the Lynx their second loss after opening the season 8-0.
Saturday will mark the second meeting between NHTI and York this season. The Lynx traveled to Wells, Maine, on Sept. 17 and earned a 3-0 victory, taking the match by scores of 25-22, 25-16 and 25-22.
NHTI produced 32 kills, 14 service aces and 77 digs in the first meeting. Emma Kowalski (Atkinson, N.H.) led the Lynx with 12 kills on a .296 hitting percentage while adding three aces. Esther de Souza Quina (Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil) recorded 11 kills on .360 hitting, four aces and 23 digs, while Haven Schwartz (Buxton, N.C.) totaled 19 assists, five aces and a match-high 42 digs.
Through nine matches this season, Brooke Kelly (Nottingham, N.H.) leads NHTI with 95 kills and 122.5 points while averaging 3.39 kills per set. De Souza Quina has compiled a team-high 190 assists to go along with 103 digs, 22 aces and 23 total blocks, while Schwartz has recorded 107 digs, 30 assists and 19 aces. Ashlynn Williams (Greenfield, N.H.) leads the Lynx with 110 digs and has added 39 kills and 17 aces.
York is in its inaugural season of women's volleyball and enters Saturday 0-7 overall and 0-6 in YSCC competition. The Hawks have already faced each of the four teams from the YSCC West in addition to conference matchups against NHTI and Southern Maine Community College from the YSCC East.
Saturday's match is the second of a five-match home stretch for NHTI. The Lynx will host Holyoke Community College Monday at 6:30 p.m., Great Bay Community College Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Central Maine Sunday, Oct. 4, at noon as part of NHTI Homecoming Weekend.
First serve against York is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday in Concord. Watch live at YSCCSportsNetwork.com.
