WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. - Hartford girls volleyball is into the quarterfinals. The fourth-seeded Hurricanes beat 13th-seeded Mid Vermont Christian 3-1 at home Wednesday in the first round of the playoffs.
Hartford rolled through the first set 25-10, but Mid Vermont Christian answered with the longest set of the night, a 31-29 win in the second. The Hurricanes took control from there, winning the third set 25-17 and closing it out 25-10 in the fourth.
Mid Vermont Christian came in on a three-match winning streak and finishes 11-4. Hartford improves to 12-3 and has won four straight since a 1-3 loss at Enosburg on Oct. 9, beating Vermont Commons, Colchester and Mount Anthony before Wednesday.
Second-year coach Natasha Niffka’s team is chasing another deep run after reaching the semifinals last season, when Enosburg ended the Hurricanes’ 12-2 season. This year’s roster has four seniors, Julia Bonnett, Amara Johnson, Emma Taylor and Maya Johnson, along with seven sophomores.
Hartford will see a familiar opponent next. Fifth-seeded Montpelier swept Missisquoi Valley 3-0 on Wednesday, and the Hurricanes won 3-2 at Montpelier on Sept. 28.
Hartford girls volleyball is next against fifth-seeded Montpelier in the quarterfinals.
Other relevant play on Wednesday, October 21:
Missisquoi Valley (1-14) 0 at Montpelier (9-6) 3 Montpelier, Hartford’s quarterfinal opponent, swept 25-20, 25-6, 25-14.
That wraps up the day for Hartford High School sports. We’ll see you next time!