The Hofstra volleyball team shocked the Towson University Tigers by winning 3-2 on Saturday, Sept. 18. The Tigers entered the game undefeated in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play for over two years.
Ana Martinovic led the way for the Pride with 16 kills, while also adding 14 digs. Her leadership in the huddle was important in the upset victory.
“[Martinovic] has been a very good example of how to be on and off the court,” Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur said in her post-match conference.
Towson won the first set 25-9. It looked like it was going to be another easy win for the Tigers, but Hofstra answered back, winning sets two and three 25-19.
The defensive play up front led by Sarah Pierre was a turning point in the second and third matches. Pierre, along with Florencia Wolkowyski and Athina Dimitriadis, helped Hofstra control the game up front.
The Tigers were not going to give up the 36-match winning streak easily though, and Towson was able to take the fourth set 25-21.
This set up a fifth and final set. Hofstra won the coin toss and got to serve first. Beatriz Alves was chosen to serve for the Pride. Hofstra scored the first four points, including two aces by Alves, and Towson head coach Don Metil used his first timeout of the final set.
The timeout was not enough to stop the momentum of the Pride as they increased their lead to seven before Towson scored their first point. At 10-3, Metil used his final timeout. Hofstra was five points away from ending Towson’s 12-game winning streak.
Metil’s second timeout was more effective, as Towson was able to shorten the deficit, but after a kill by Dimitriadis Hofstra’s lead was 14-8. The Tigers then went on their own run, cutting the lead all the way down to 14-12.
Hofstra was on the brink of letting their upset slip away, but a block by Pierre gave Hofstra their first win in conference play this year.
Towson had only lost four sets before this match and had not lost a CAA match since 2018.
The Tigers do not have to wait long for a rematch , as they face Hofstra again on Sunday, Sept. 19, at the David S. Mack Physical Education Building.
Photo Courtesy of Evan Bernstein/Hofstra Athletics
