By By Olson Barthelemy
There was pressure on the Pride volleyball team to win its final match of the season.
No matter the outcome of the team’s match against Northeastern University on Saturday, the team was guaranteed a chance to compete in the CAA Tournament and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
The pressure resided in the fact that a win would earn the Pride the regular season title and the right to host the CAA tournament at home. A loss would mean leaving the friendly confines of the Physical Fitness Center and trying its luck on the road.
But standing in the Pride’s way was a Huskies team bearing exponentially more pressure as it sat ranked seventh in the CAA, needing a win to even have a chance at making the trip to the tournament.
The Pride faced the best effort from the Huskies, but in a testament to a team seemingly on the road to great things, the Pride withstood the best Northeastern could throw its way and won the match, 3-1 (21-30, 30-26, 30-25, 30-22).
“They came out on fire playing very well,” Pride head coach Fran Kalafer said regarding the Huskies fast start.
The Huskies beat the Pride by nine points, the biggest winning margin in any game, 30-21, to take the first game.
The Huskies managed to stifle the Pride offensively, holding the Huskies to an .080 hitting percentage and 14 kills in the first game. The Huskies, on the other hand, racked up 16 kills with a .209 percentage.
Unfortunately for the Huskies and their tournament hopes, the team seemed to have put all of its efforts and intensity into starting off strong and taking the first game. As the match progressed, the Huskies put up less of a fight as the Pride conversely mounted a comeback.
While the Huskies managed the same number of kills and increased their hitting percentage to .304 in the second game, they were unable to suppress the Pride’s offense for a second straight game as the Pride totaled 21 kills with a hitting percentage of .277. Just as quickly as they had gone up by one game, the Huskies dropped the second game, 30-26.
“We maintained our poise,” Kalafer said.
Further displaying the waning effects of their victory in the first game, the Huskies lost the third game, 30-25. Northeastern’s slow collapse was matched by the determined business-like nature of the Pride. The team posted another 17 kills in the third game, and held the Huskies to 13 kills and a .074 hitting percentage.
The win gave the Pride (19-7, 16-2 CAA) a regular season championship and earned it the right to host the CAA Tournament at home.
“I would describe this season as a complete success,” Kalafer said. “Now we want to keep climbing and hopefully reach the top.”
Beverly Rivera and the Pride will need solid play to make it through this season’s CAA Tournament. (Photo Courtesy of Athletic Dept.)
