A match filled with errors, controversy, and big plays ended rather lopsided as the Towson University Tigers downed the Hofstra Pride volleyball team in straight sets. A second straight defeat for Hofstra at the hands of another Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) foe. The Pride drop to 13-3 overall, and 3-2 in CAA play. 

Freshman Nil Kayaalp made her first collegiate start at libero for the Pride and recorded the opening point of the match to go along with 15 digs.  

“They both stepped up, they both made some good plays,” said Hofstra Head Coach Emily Mansur.   

The first set was tightly contested as each team continued to  trade points An intense few plays with various questionable calls led to challenges from both coaches, successful for Towson and not for Hofstra. Nothing could separate the teams however, as the set got sloppy and multiple errors from both sides had the set going back-and-forth. The Tigers offense got going and 3 straight kills forced a Pride timeout with the score 15-12  in Towson’s favor. After the timeout, the struggles continued for Hofstra as a quick 4-0 run forced another Pride timeout. The Pride offense got into gear after the second timeout, however, more mistakes cost Hofstra as Towson went on to win the set 25-19.  

Facing a potential 2-0 set deficit, the Pride were unable to match the Tigers early in the set. Down 7-2, Hofstra was forced into an early timeout. Needing to regroup, Hofstra put together a 3-0 scoring run to cut the deficit to two. Many costly net violations from the Pride, allowed Towson to regain control taking a 12-8 advantage. Back-to-back kills from Sophomore Emilly Nunes put the Pride within striking distance down a pair. A 3-0 run sparked by Freshman Beatriz Braga got Hofstra within a point at 17-16. After a Tigers timeout the Pride leveled the score and a Clara Bal kill gave Hofstra their first lead of the set 18-17. A massive spike by Bal garnered some hope to the hosts, but another self-inflicted error bailed out the Tigers. The set finished 25-22 after a rally and kil by Towson’s Irbe Lazda.  

In the final set, Towson took an early three-point lead from their great defense and more errors from the Pride. Hofstra fought their way back into the set and tied it at  six before another net violation gave Towson the lead back. Clara Bal got the crowd into it with a massive kill and service error, helping the Pride even it up again. The two teams went point for point, with Sarah Pierre leading the team with  three big kills. The Pride stayed close and were within one at 20-19. The Tigers were able to fend off a late Pride surge winning 25-22 and taking the match in straight sets. 

The team committed a season high 31 total errors, which can be correlated to why they were unable to sustain any momentum during the match. 

“I think we have to be a little smarter when there is a bigger block in front of us,” said Mansur. “It was not good enough. We’ve got to come back and control what we can control.”

The two sides meet again on Sunday, Oct. 1,  as the Pride will look to even the season series. The match is set for 1 p.m. 

Photo Courtesy of Lee S. Weissman/Hofstra Athletics