In the first ever meeting between the two schools, the Hofstra Pride volleyball team lost to the Florida International University Panthers in straight sets (25-17, 25-18, 25-22) on Friday night, Sept. 6. The Pride held an 18-17 lead in the final set before dropping eight of the final 12 points.

Senior Laura Masciullo recorded a match-high 13 kills, her fourth consecutive match with double-digit kills. Fellow senior Luisa Sydlik chipped in with 26 assists. Friday night’s match marked Sydlik’s 70th consecutive match with double-digit assists.

The Panthers cruised in the first two sets of the evening, as the Pride had trouble finding an offensive rhythm. It took until the third set for Hofstra to make an offensive push but could not hold on to their late lead in that final set.

Despite FIU recording only three more kills than Hofstra (37 and 34 respectively), the Pride’s hitting percentage paled in comparison to their opponent’s. Hofstra was outhit a staggering .347 to .177. Hofstra’s 34 kills were the team’s second-lowest total this season – the lowest since the first match of the season against Penn State when they recorded 33 kills. The .177 hitting percentage is also the team’s second lowest this season (.149 at Penn State).

The Pride also committed six more errors than the Panthers, recorded five less assists and only recorded three blocks to the Panthers’ 11.

Junior Juliana Vaz led the Pride with 10 digs, while classmate Luz Divina Nuñez Sierra  helped her team’s cause with seven kills as well. Freshman Athina Dimitriadis chipped in with four kills of her own.

Hofstra falls to 2-3 on the young season, while FIU improves to 2-3 with the victory.

The Pride wrap up the FIU Panther Fest on Sat. Sept. 7 at 9 a.m. when they take on Stetson University. The following Tues. Sept 10, the Pride play in Hempstead for the first time this season as they face off against St. John’s University at 7 p.m. in the David S. Mack Physical Education Center.

Image courtesy of Hofstra Athletics