Volleyball Begins New Era with Coach Nguyen

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Hartford volleyball team began its preparation for its 2018 season last week when the Hawks reported for preseason. Check out the "Sights and Sounds" from one of the team's first practices of the fall season by clicking the video below. It's an exciting time for the Hawks volleyball team, as this season marks the start of a new era with Vinh Nguyen making his head coach debut. Hired on Feb. 5, 2018, Nguyen brings 21-plus years of coaching at the collegiate level to Hartford. Prior to joining the Hawks, he spent the past three seasons as the Associate Head Coach at North Texas. The start of the Nguyen Era lands the Hawks in Boston for the Boston College Invitational. Hartford will take on the host-team Eagles on Friday, Aug. 24 (7 p.m.) before concluding the weekend with a match against Providence on Saturday, Aug. 25 (4:30 p.m.). Hartford will then make its home debut on Wednesday, Aug. 29, when it hosts neighboring rival CCSU in the opening game of the Battle of Connecticut. First serve from the Hartford Volleyball Gym is set for 6 p.m. and admission is free. The Hawks return seven starters from last year's squad, including 2017 All-Rookie Team selection Abby Nash. An outside hitter, she delivered a team-best 191 kills and led the way with 2.39 per match a year ago. Senior outside hitter Paulina Modestow (1.89 kills/set) and junior middleblocker Jenna Bridges (2.04 kill/set) also return to the court for Hartford in 2018. Bridges, who led the team with 33 aces, was a key contributor on defense as well, registering a team-best 84 blocks.