The Hofstra University volleyball team suffered their third straight loss of the season against the University of Virginia, 3-1, on Saturday, Sept. 7.
The Pride started the season 2-0 but now linger under the .500 threshold with a 2-3 record in their first five games.
With the win, Virginia now stands at a 4-1 record, climbing back in the win column after being swept by Coastal Carolina University.
Even with the loss, Constanza Perez Sain kept the Pride afloat in the series with 14 kills and two aces. Beatriz Braga and Izadora Stedile added some stability on the court with 12 and 11 kills. Newcomer Ellie Pamatat aided with an astounding 34 assists despite the loss.
The Cavaliers Elayna Duprey torched from the top of the net with 20 kills while Brooklyn Borum and Abby Tadder added 19 collectively.
Virginia controlled most of the game, starting in the first set. The Cavaliers climbed to an early 10-7 lead as they remained a tick ahead of the Pride. From that point on, Virginia rattled off five straight points, four of them being kills from Duprey, jolting them to a 15-7 lead. With kills continuing to rain down, Virginia comfortably dominated the end of the first set with a 25-14 win after an attack error by Pinar Erol.
The second set remained the same for both teams as Virginia dominated, with the Pride coming closer to the first set with a 25-19 loss.
Hofstra turned the tide with a comeback in the third. A tight match ensued with points being favored from both sides of the net. Tied at 11 with a kill by Tadder, Hofstra pushed themselves forward by Perez Sain adding two kills to make it 13-11. The momentum swung in the Pride’s favor as Virginia had some defensive miscues.
Braga and Perez Sain ended the match on fire, contributing three combined kills to take the third set 25-17.
The fourth set again remained close as the Cavaliers tried to close out the series while the Pride looked to force set five. Both teams played well as they knotted themselves up at 16 with a Stedile kill. Virginia then took a 19-16 lead from a kill, an attack error and a bad set.
Those three points proved to be the turning point as Virginia remained a step ahead of the Pride. With a 23-20 lead, Duprey secured the game with two kills in a 25-20 finish.
After a 2-3 road trip to start the season, Hofstra is now headed home for their first home game as they seek to get back on winning track against Binghamton University. The first serve will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Keith Lucas/Sideline Media
