The Hofstra University volleyball team continued their perfect start to the season with a 3-1 victory over Fordham University on Friday, Sept. 12, in match one of the Rosehill Classic. The Pride remained undefeated with a 5-0 record, and the Rams fell to 5-3. The 5-0 start is the Pride’s best start to the season since 2023, when they opened the year 6-0. The win marks Hofstra’s fifth 5-0 start since the establishment of the Coastal Athletic Association in 2002.
The Pride were overpowering on every line of the scoresheet as they tallied 69 kills to Fordham’s 32 kills. Hofstra’s defense was sharp with 87 digs to the Rams’ 63 digs. The Pride’s offense withstood middle blocker Tatum Holderied, who led the nation in blocks coming into the tournament. Holderied put up 10 blocks on the day, but it was not enough to stop the fiery Pride offense.
Hofstra had three contributors with double-doubles: Beatriz Braga, Izadora Stedile and Nina Jioshvili-Ravva. Braga was spectacular all over the floor. She delivered 19 kills, 19 digs, three blocks and two assists. Stedile continued to be the star that the Pride needed, totaling 16 kills and 19 digs. Jioshvili-Ravva continued a strong freshman campaign as the starting setter, notching 38 assists, 13 digs and a service ace.
Hofstra opened the first set red-hot, taking an early 6-1 lead. The Rams crept back into the set on a few attack errors by the Pride and overtook the lead on a 5-0 run. Hofstra gave the Rams a taste of their own medicine and capitalized on back-to-back errors to tie the set at 12 apiece. After a few substitutions and a timeout, the Hofstra offense exploded and took the set 25-21.
Fordham answered in the second set with a huge 25-16 victory. Hofstra’s offense got sloppy early, which allowed the Rams to take an early lead. To Fordham’s two misplays in the second set, the Pride struggled with communication and committed 11 attack errors.
The Pride took the third set 25-23 in a back-and-forth fight. Kills separated the Pride from the Rams in the set, as the Pride put up a convincing 22 kills to Fordham’s 10. It was anyone’s set until the final plays, when Fordham’s Audrey Brown ended a 3-0 Hofstra run and tied the score at 22 apiece. Clara Bal, Braga and Emilly Nunes followed with three consecutive kills to take the set victory.
Hofstra won a convincing 25-18 fourth set to solidify the victory and keep their undefeated streak alive. Jioshvili-Ravva and Braga were a lethal duo, as they powered up for three consecutive kills in the set. Braga had seven kills in the fourth set alone.
Braga has been a game-changer in the first five matches of the season. She is third on the team in kills with 56, third on the team in kills per set with 2.95 and ranks fourth on the team with 40 digs.
The Pride looked to match their program’s best start in match two of the Rosehill Classic against Fairleigh Dickinson University on Saturday, Sept. 13. Game time was set for 1 p.m.
