After winning their fourth conference championship a season ago, the Hofstra volleyball team captured the No. 3 seed this year and will play host to the 2019 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament, which begins on Friday, Nov. 22, and runs until Sunday, Nov. 24. The Pride begins their run at the CAA title by facing off against the No. 6 seeded University of Delaware.
Hofstra followed up their championship season with a 2019 regular season record of 17-11, as well as 10-6 in CAA play.
“It was an okay season taking into consideration all the big players that we lost last year,” said Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur. “The team worked really hard and I think we fell short in certain moments due to lack of experience or lack of leadership, but we need to build momentum for next week and really grow up, mature and be able to make it a good week.”
The Pride looks to defend their title, but it will come with challenges. Towson University enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed and will enjoy a first-round bye. The Tigers have put up historic numbers in 2019, playing to a 26-2 regular season record, as well as 16-0 in CAA play. Towson is also in the midst of a program-record 20-match win streak that dates back to Saturday, Sept. 14.
Following Towson, last year’s CAA runner-up James Madison University (JMU) is locked in as the No. 2 seed, while No. 3 Hofstra, No. 4 Northeastern University, No. 5 Elon University and No. 6 University of Delaware round out the rest of the tournament field.
“Towson is a tough team and no one has beaten them,” said Hofstra senior Luisa Sydlik. “I think when we played them here at home, we did a really great job at slowing them down and I think that was the first time they actually struggled.”
Hofstra lost 3-1 against Towson at home on Sunday, Oct. 27.
“For JMU, both matches against them we just didn’t play well. We didn’t do what we were supposed to do so it’s really just about sticking with the game plan, serving tough and bringing them out of system,” she added.
JMU comes into the tournament with a chip on their shoulder. A year after losing to Hofstra in the championship round, they fought hard with the Pride once again in 2019 to beat them out for the No. 2 seed.
The Dukes stand tall with a 13-3 conference record and will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between Hofstra and Delaware. They feature one of the strongest freshmen classes and one of the best defenses in the CAA. Sophia Davis leads the way for that rookie class with a team-high 120 blocks and 243 total kills, which is good for second on the team.
“We just have to execute a little bit better because they are both very good teams,” Mansur said. “As a program, our ladies [have] got to put their mind a little bit more into the game because this is not just a physical game, and sometimes we forget that a little bit. If we are able to put our heart, our mind and our volleyball knowledge into this, we’ll be fine.”
Despite each team’s record and seeding, the conference tournament means a fresh start for everyone. Once the playoffs begin, it’s anyone’s game.
Although Delaware placed at No. 6, they carry the top offensive weapon in the CAA. Senior outside hitter Maria Bellinger finished the regular season atop the conference leaderboard with 453 kills and has the ability to lead her team to success.
“I think the key to slow Delaware down is [Bellinger],” Sydlik said. “She is the heart of the team and we need to defend her, block her and make her pass every single ball.”
The Pride carries a team built with passion, heart and chemistry that features a mix of veterans who experienced an unforgettable 2018 season and a talented group of freshmen with a bright future. Two standout players include Sydlik and outside hitter Laura Masciullo.
Both seniors, Masciullo and Sydlik have broken countless program records over the past few years to place themselves among the greatest athletes to ever put on a Hofstra uniform. As their Hofstra careers come to a close, they are both ready to embark on one final playoff run.
“The biggest motivation for me is the feeling that I had after that final point last year and remembering holding the trophy and just the feeling you have when you wake up the morning after,” Masciullo said.
“It’s definitely very emotional and more than I thought it was going to be,” Sydlik said. “Also, having my family here makes it very emotional for me and I think that’s motivation for me to go out there those last few matches and have a great way to finish the season.”
Just like JMU, the freshmen have stepped up big for the Pride this season to help them build a strong core group for years to come. Players like Madeline Matheny, Simge Korkmaz, Athina Dimitriadis, and Sarianna Anglero have solidified themselves as future stars for this team and will now experience the CAA tournament for the first time.
“To prepare them, it starts during practice by pushing them to the limits, giving them a lot of confidence and not letting them down,” Sydlik said. “If I see them struggle, I go to talk to them and try to find ways for them to score, to help them in passing, blocking and other ways we can help them.”
The Pride has fared well against other CAA Tournament teams this year, winning matches against Elon, Northeastern and Delaware, but they have struggled against the top two teams. Both JMU and Towson completed regular season sweeps over the Pride.
“We need to go out and think of every game as a tie-breaker, pretty much because either you continue or you stop there. You either win or you lose, and there are no second chances,” Masciullo said. “There is no ‘We’ll get better next time.’ This is it, and it’s beautiful, because it gives you a lot of adrenaline when you’re playing and it’s always good volleyball.”
Hofstra will kick off their playoff push on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. at home against No. 6 Delaware as they look to defend their 2018 CAA title.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
