The Hofstra Pride volleyball team continued their perfect start to the season with a 3-1 victory in the final match of the Hofstra Invitational, defeating the Delaware State University Hornets. The win propelled the Pride to a 3-0 record on the season. Meanwhile, Delaware State dropped their first contest of the year, falling to a record of 2-1.
From the very beginning of the game, the Pride outpowered the Hornets. The first set in particular was all Hofstra. The Pride won the set by a convincing 25-8 score. Despite the total attempts being equal between the two teams at 19, the difference was the kills and errors. The Pride had a plus five kills advantage and the Hornets committed five more errors than Hofstra.
“We started really well, we were executing what was asked for, but then Delaware State really stepped up and we kind of stayed the same,” said Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur. “It was nice to of course see some positive things, but we need to really learn to start well and continue to grow, not just stagnate and think that that’s good enough.”
In the second set, the Pride managed to pull out another victory, squeaking by in a 25-21 score. Even though the Hornets improved in the kills department, the Pride once again outmatched Delaware State with fewer errors and this time, recorded four more total attempts at the net.
Delaware State responded nicely with a 25-19 win in the next set. The reverse occurred for Hofstra, as the Pride had eight errors compared to one from the Hornets. The comeback was closed shut when Hofstra hung on to win the fourth and final set, 25-23.
Hofstra tallied more than Delaware State in every category except for digs, with kills being the largest margin with a plus 14 advantage.
Sophomore Clara Bal was the star of the day for Hofstra. Bal led the team in total attempts and kills, with 37 shots and 16 kills. Beatriz Alves also stepped up on the floor, playing in all four sets with 3 kills on 5 total attempts.
For Delaware State, Alondra Maldonado led the way with 12 kills on 34 total attempts, with only four errors to her name.
As far as the Hofstra Invitational is concerned, coach Mansur is excited about what is to come.
“I think everybody had different points that they played well, that they stepped up,” Mansur said. “I really don’t think we had one player that did it all, many players impacted in different times, which is why we were able to be successful this weekend.”
The Pride will now leave the David S. Mack Physical Education Center to travel to New Rochelle, New York, on Tuesday, Aug. 29 against the Iona University Gaels. The game will be the first of an eight-team road stretch.
Photo courtesy of GamedayPhotosNYC
