LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of New Haven women's volleyball team finished its season Thursday in the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship Quarterfinals to in a four-set loss to Arkansas - Fort Smith. The Lions won by set scores of 31-33, 25-17, 25-10, 25-23.

The Chargers conclude their season at 24-9 overall, while Arkansas - Fort Smith advances to the semifinals and will play nationally-ranked No. 1 Tampa Friday at Knights Hall.

Senior middle Kristy Atufunwa (Denver, Colo./Denver East) led the Chargers with 14 kills and four total blocks. Hayley Wilson (Denver, Colo./Overland) tallied nine kill and a team-leading .381 hitting percentage. Kristen Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty) added nine kills and 14 digs, while Meghan Kennelly (Detroit, Mich./Eisenhower) and Ashley Dalton (Helena, Mont./Capital / Northern Arizona University) each recorded seven kills. Senior setter Kaulana Ane (Paia, Hawai'i/Kamehameha) handed out 39 helpers and grabbed 17 digs. Libero Kea-Marie Olaso (Kailua, Hawai'i/Le Jardin Academy) led the match with 35 digs. 

The match included 23 tied scores and eight lead changes, a majority of which occurred in the first set. UNH and UAFS were tied 15 times and exchanged the lead another five times in the first set alone. 

New Haven trailed in hitting percentage, assists, digs and blocks in the loss. The Lions held a narrow 10-9 lead in blocked shots, while the Chargers trailed 64-46 in assists.

Extra points were needed in the opening set, one which the Chargers fought off four set points for the Lions before taking a 33-31 set-victory. The set went nearly point-for-point the entire length before UNH went on a 6-2 run late in the set to take a 23-19 lead. UAFS responded with  6-1 run to have set-point 25-24 with the serve. The teams against exchanged points before UNH score back-to-back with an Atufunwa kill and Lions' error.

Sets two and three both belonged to the Lions as they ust out to large leads and secured a 2-1 advantage in the match.

The fourth set was also tightly contested, despite Arkansas - Fort Smith's early advantage. Trailing 14-8, the Chargers went on 5-0 run to bring the score back within one. A Kennelly kill knotted the set at 21-21. A 4-2 run by the Lions down the stretch sealed the victory for UAFS.

This season, the Chargers marked their 13th appearance in the NCAA National Quarterfinals and won their second NCAA East Region Championship in the last three season.