The Hofstra volleyball team was swept out of the Syracuse tournament this weekend by Army West Point and the Yale University Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Syracuse University. After this tournament, the Pride moves to a 3-8 record on the season.
The Pride came into Saturday with a 3-6 record and was looking to get back on track following a loss to Syracuse University on Friday, Sept. 9. The Pride played Army in their first match, which also entered the day with a 3-6 record.
In the first set of the matchup, West Point and the Pride traded blows, and the set remained close throughout. The Pride took a 17-15 advantage late in the set; however, a kill from West Point’s Allanah Cutler and an attack error by Hofstra’s Emily Nunes tied the game up at 17. The game remained even after an attack error from West Point’s Julia Johnson and a block given to Pride’s Clara Bal and Sarah Pierre tied the set at 21.
After this point, the Pride was not able to capitalize on the previous play, and an attack error by Zyare Abdul-Rahim and a block from West Point’s Cutler sealed the first set 25-22.
After a close first set loss, the Pride looked to even the match at one apiece. However, the first set loomed largely over the rest of the match-up. Army West Point wasted no time in the second set as they took a commanding 9-3 lead from a kill by Mackenzie Karnig.
The Pride got close to making a comeback with an 18-14 score on a service error by West Point’s Paige Fixemer. Army, however, ran away with the set, ending it with a kill by Cutler and a final score of 25-19.
Down 2-0, the Pride tried to salvage the match in set three. The two teams fought for each point in an exceptionally close set. After being down 5-1, the Pride mounted a comeback to tie the game at six with an attack error from West Point’s Mackenzie Lynch.
After that play, West Point took an 18-10 lead as they were trying to wrap up ahead of schedule. The Pride was able to come back and tie the game late with a kill by Yagmur Cinel, but that looked to be the last push for the Pride as Army West Point took the set and the game with a kill from Fixemer.
The Pride’s Bal led the team in kills with eight; Beatriz Alves recorded 27 assists and two aces in the game.
For the second half of the doubleheader, Yale University came into the game with a 4-1 record on the season.
In the first set between Yale and Hofstra, both teams traded points back and forth offensively until the game was tied at seven. After a ball handling error by Alves, Yale took a commanding 18-13 lead.
The Pride came oh-so-close to claiming the victory in the first set until the Bulldogs secured the win with a kill from Mila Yarich and Cara Schultz.
The Pride did not open the second set strong, as Yale took an early 6-0 lead. Bal came in clutch to make it a tied game at seven. Yale rallied back and grasped a 17-10 lead, giving way to Schultz’s service ace for the Bulldogs. Yale took the second set with the score of 25-15.
Hofstra tried to salvage the match with a win as was evidenced by the start of set three when the Pride took a commanding 10-4 lead with another kill by Bal. Yale could not contain the Pride as a kill by Florencia Wolkowyski furthered the lead to 17-9. A massive kill by Mila Yarich for the Bulldogs brought the score to 21 on both sides of the net.
The Pride could not capitalize and surrendered their biggest lead of the day as a kill from Audrey Leak sealed the deal for Yale to win the game 25-22.
Bal led the Pride with nine kills and 13 digs, and Alves contributed 20 assists and 11 digs throughout the three sets.
The Hofstra volleyball team looks to get a winning streak going as they prepare to go up against Stony Brook University on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
