By Tyler McCord, Staff Writer
Tuesday night in the Physical Fitness Center, the Hofstra volleyball team defeated its Big East opponent, Seton Hall, three matches to one. The win over the Pirates improves the Pride’s overall record to 4-8.
“We just tried to stick to the game plan,” said head coach Kristina Hernandez. “Tonight we earned a good win over a quality opponent.”
Prior to the start of the game, the Pride had energy and intensity during the warm-ups. “We try to come out and keep the intensity high because it doesn’t always happen, so it’s big for us to have a good warm-up session” explained Hernandez.
In the first set, Hofstra took an early lead and never looked back. The Pride led by as many as eight points during the set. With spikes slamming each side of the court, the Pride managed to hold off the Pirates to win the first set by a score of 26-24. With one set under its belt, Hofstra took the court for the second set and again started with an early lead. Going up 11-7, the Pride kept the pressure on Seton Hall and eventually turned the set into a 25-16 win.
After intermission, Hofstra fell out early against Seton Hall. Trailing the Pirates from the start of the set, Hofstra was able to come back and bring the score even at 11-11, but the Pirates were too much in the third set and Seton Hall ended up with a 25-16 win to bring the series 2-1.
“That wasn’t us, that’s not how we play,” said Hernandez. “I told them that we need to play our type of volleyball.”
In the fourth set, the Pride played its type of volleyball indeed. Like the first two sets, Hofstra jumped out early to take a lead and once again, did not look back. When Seton Hall scored, Hofstra immediately responded and the Pride ended up securing the set 25-21 and the match as well, 3-1.
Against Seton Hall, redshirt freshman outside hitter Nikki Kinnier led the team with seventeen kills, while sophomore libero Kylee Maneja had sixteen digs in the win. Also Seton Hall committed twenty-nine errors while Hofstra only had seventeen in the four sets played.
Overall, the Pride played well against a solid opponent, but it will need to be ready this weekend as it travels to West Point for the West Point Challenge at Army. “We open up with Buffalo who is a tough opponent,” Hernandez said. “We will have to stick to the gameplan.”
The Pride play Buffalo on Friday morning before taking on Bryant University in the afternoon. The tournament continues on Sunday when the Pride play the United States Air Force Academy and Army.
The next home game for the Pride is on Wednesday, Stptember 22 when Fairfield University comes to the Mack Sports Complex.
Sophomore middle blocker Carolyn Jenkins (22) spikes against Seton Hall. (Sean M. Gates/ The Chronicle)
