The beat goes on for the Hofstra volleyball team as they increased their winning streak to nine by beating the University of North Carolina – Wilmington (UNCW) Seahawks in four sets on Saturday, Oct. 15, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The set scores were 25-21, 25-22, 23-25 and 25-19 respectively. The Pride remains on top of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) standings with a 9-0 record, and they improve to a 12-8 overall record.
Hofstra stormed ahead early in the first set with a 5-0 run as Emily Nunes, Yagmur Cinel and Izadora Stedile all helped to build a lead. The Seahawks remained close until the Pride scored another five consecutive points for a commanding 10-point lead. This time it was Cinel and Clara Ball getting the work done with a kill and two service aces. UNCW showed signs of a comeback late into the set with a 6-0 run followed by a 4-0 run, but the damage was already done and the Pride finished the set off with a final of 25-21.
The second set was the Cinel and Stedile show, as the duo’s combined 11 kills gave the Pride a come-from-behind victory. The Seahawks were ahead at all times in the game but never out of striking distance, and the Pride took advantage of this with a late 4-0 streak to take a 22-20 lead. Hofstra wrapped it up shortly after that with a kill from Stedile.
Hofstra picked up the third set right where they left off with three consecutive scores, including two kills from Zyare Abdul-Rahim. However, UNCW responded with five of their own to take a lead that they never gave up. It remained close until Kirsten Badowski, Brooke Hanshumaker and Grace Melnick combined for four kills for the Seahawks which all but confirmed the set win. Hofstra attempted a late comeback but another kill from Hanshumaker and an attack error by Abdul-Rahim gave the set to UNCW.
Fueled by frustration from the third set, the Pride dominated the early parts of the fourth, scoring 11 back-to-back points featuring kills from Stedile, Abdul-Rahim and Sarah Pierre. Beatriz Alves joined the team effort with five assists and two aces. The Seahawks came within two points, but the Pride finished them off with three kills in quick succession from Cinel and Abdul-Rahim.
Cinel finished with 15 total kills, and Abdul-Rahim was right behind with 14. Beatriz added 45 assists to her team-leading stat, as she now has 724 this season. Chiara Cucco led the team in digs with 22.
The Seahawks now fall to 1-6 in CAA play and 3-13 for the season. The loss is also the sixth straight for the Seahawks against Hofstra, and Hofstra continues dictating the all-time series at 32-7.
Hofstra reenters CAA play with one more match against UNCW on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 1 p.m. before coming back to Hempstead for a six-game homestand against the University of Delaware, Chicago State University and Northeastern University.
Photo courtesy of Tom Hanna
