The Hofstra University volleyball team battled in a five-set comeback match against the United States Military Academy West Point to take game one of the Black Knight Invitational on Friday, Sept. 5. The win keeps the Pride undefeated, moving them to 2-0 on the season while the Black Knights fall to 0.500 with a 2-2 record.

Everyone contributed to the Hofstra victory, coming together on both sides of the ball with 57 kills and 78 digs. Beatriz Braga was on fire, leading the Pride in kills with 15, while adding a service ace and eight digs. Preseason All-Coastal Athletic Association Honoree Izadora Stedile continued to be a powerhouse on both offense and defense, leading the Pride with 19 digs, while adding 10 kills and three blocks. Constanza Perez Sain had 10 digs and 10 kills, while notching three aces. Freshman standout Nina Jioshvili-Ravva contributed 31 assists on the day.

West Point’s Mackenzie Lynch was electric all over the court, adding 15 kills, an ace and 17 digs. Chloe Murakami had a strong day with 13 kills and two service aces.

Set one was a back-and-forth fight with 14 ties. The Pride came through with a close 25-23 win. After Army tied the set at four apiece, the Black Knights went on a three-point run that was blocked by a Stedile kill. This gave Hofstra the motivation to counter with a three-point run of their own. Army matched the run and scored another three consecutive points. The Pride took a 13-11 lead, started by a Perez Sain kill that resulted in a four-point run. The two battled until the very end when the Pride took control at a 23-23 game with back-to-back kills from Perez Sain and Braga.

The second and third sets were convincing wins by West Point. Army came hot out of the gate with a 5-0 run. They continued to strike, taking a huge 13-4 advantage and gaining a leg up through the Pride’s ten errors. Hofstra tried to mount a comeback with an Emilly Nunes kill, back-to-back service aces from Perez Sain and a kill from Braga, but Army continued to dominate, finishing out the set with a 25-18 victory.

West Point continued its offensive momentum with a 25-19 victory in the third set, taking a 2-1 lead in the match. Army was again able to capitalize on eight Hofstra errors.

After it seemed like the momentum was with the Black Knights, the Pride battled through the fourth set and took a 25-19 victory, forcing a fifth set. When Army tied the set at 17 a piece, the Pride went on a 5-0 run to pull ahead. Hofstra rode out the lead and ended the close fight with a huge kill by Clara Bal.

The Pride took the match with a 15-5 victory in set five. Hofstra went on a 4-0 run and a 5-0 run, broken up by a kill from Breelyn Bender.

The comeback win gives the Pride back-to-back five-set victories against West Point. Hofstra continued their run at the Black Knight Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 6, against Rider University. Gametime was set for 10 a.m.