The Hofstra University volleyball team knocked off the Hampton Pirates at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center on Sept. 28, clinching the series sweep. Hofstra dominated the Pirates in all three sets, putting them 7-6. Hofstra sits at 3-1 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play after the win, while Hampton has yet to win a match this season.
Hofstra’s Clara Bal led the Pride to victory with 16 kills.
“[Bal] is playing anything and everything that we need and what is really cool is that she is embracing those moments,” said Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur.
Hampton started off strong, getting out to a 3-0 lead in the first set. The Pride were able to come back from an early deficit on kills from Emily Nunes, Constanza Perez Sain and Bal. Hofstra took off from there and won the first set 25-15. Nunes led the Pride with six kills while Ellie Pamatat set her teammates up well with 13 assists.
Early in set two, the Pride took off with kills by Perez Sain and Iyanna Garvin and an ace from Chiara Cucco, giving them an early 3-1 lead. Hampton matched the Pride on a kill from Madison Clark and an error from the Pride. After Hampton’s short rally, Hofstra capitalized on mistakes from the Pirates and showed their strong offense. They ran away with a 25-18 set victory. Bal had six kills and Perez Sain had four in the second set.
The Pride took the victory in a close third set, where both teams matched each other throughout the entire set. They fought back and forth, until Perez Sain had a set-changing kill, tying up the game sparking a 4-0 run for Hofstra. From there, the Pride took control of the set, finishing the set and the match with a 25-21 win. Hampton showed fierce fight in the third set but could not keep the match going.
The Pride were led by Bal and Nunes with 16 and nine kills respectively. Pamatat had an impressive 32 assists. Cucco had 12 digs throughout the three-set match, putting her at third all time for the Pride in digs.
Hofstra has won three games in a row and will look to use this momentum going into the two-game series against Campbell University. Gametime is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m. at the David S. Mack. Physical Education Center.
Photo courtesy of Aaron Diaz
