Hofstra opened the season with a 3-0 win over the Siena College Saints on Friday, Aug. 25, in the David S. Mack Sports Physical Education Building, going 25-16, 25-17 and 26-24.

“3-0 so it’s a good start,” said Hofstra volleyball head coach Emily Mansur. “We got a chance to see different players and I always think we can do better but it was a good way to start and take the nerves of the first match out.”

“I think we had different plays and different things that work in different parts of the game,” Mansur added. “I think we just kept our energy up and I know that’s something that I’ve been talking about that I really wanted from this group.”

A lot of the focus was on returners, namely senior Yagmur Cinel, and sophomores Izadora Stedile and Clara Bal who lead the offense with eight kills under Cinel’s belt and seven for Stedile and Bal each. But for viewers and spectators, it was Bal’s energy that shone brightest.

“She was phenomenal during the spring, she was a big leader for us and it was really nice to see her being that tonight,” Mansur explained. “When she gets a big kill, with her teammates she’s just so energetic and we need that.”

The freshmen had their fair share of the limelight too, with Beatriz Braga and her team-high four service aces coming in clutch.

“I think they did a good job for their first match,” Mansur said. “There was so much that go on emotionally on playing a first match, so I think if we take that in consideration, they did a good job.”

On Saturday, Aug. 26, the Pride will face NJIT and Delaware State in continuation of the Hofstra invitation at 1:30pm and 7pm respectively.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco