The Hofstra University volleyball team travelled to Boston, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Sept. 23, to take on the Northeastern University Huskies in a Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) matchup. The Pride came out victorious, moving to 3-0 in conference play and 13-1 overall, while the Huskies fell to 6-5. The victory extends Hofstra’s winning streak to seven straight games.
Hofstra were led by sophomores Clara Bal and Izadora Stedile, who combined for 37 kills. Senior Yagmur Cinel added 13 kills, with a .414 hitting percentage, and two aces.
The opening set started back and forth, with two points each by Bal and Stedile getting the Pride on the board with the score tied at four. Mistakes hurt the Pride early as they had three service errors within the first 12 points.
Despite the early struggles, the Pride’s potent offense continued to show out as three straight kills helped them pull away 15-10. The lead grew to eight after an onslaught of attacks from the Pride forced a Northeastern timeout, firmly putting the momentum with the Pride. Northeastern could not deal with Bal at the end of the set as she had three consecutive kills, finishing off the set 25-15. Hofstra controlled the set leading Northeastern in attacks, kills, aces and digs.
Hofstra looked for more of the same in the second set; however, the Huskies came out strong, jumping to a quick 3-0 lead. Northeastern graduate student Julianna Truscott had a kill and a service ace leading to an early Pride timeout with the score 7-2. Out of the timeout, the Pride went on a 3-0 scoring run, trimming the deficit to 8-6. The Huskies remained in the lead throughout the set until a Bal ace tied the score at 13. Both teams traded points until a service error gave Hofstra their first lead of the set at 17-16. The Huskies, powered by Truscott, recorded a quick 3-0 run, putting Northeastern back in front 19-17. In need of a comeback, the Pride mounted a scoring run of their own bringing themselves within one. Multiple Hofstra errors put the Huskies in match point before another Truscott kill evened the match at a set a piece.
A massive third set awaited, but nothing could separate the teams early as the set began knotted at 3. Graduate student Sarah Pierre had a block and a kill, helping the Pride to an 8-5 lead. A hot streak of kills from Bal forced a Northeastern timeout with Hofstra up by five. An Izadora Stedile spear attack kept the Pride in command, with her back-to-back aces making the score 20-12. Hofstra continued their dominance in the set, wrapping it up on a 7-2 run, taking a 2-1 set lead.
The fourth set would end up being decisive. A tightly contested start to the set had the sides level at 4-4. Hofstra would take a four-point lead after a few Husky errors, leading 10-6. Yagmur Cinel would add to the Pride’s 11 service aces, scoring two of her own to extend the Hofstra lead to six. The Huskies responded with a necessary 4-0 run, looking to keep the match alive and cutting the lead to two. At 23-20, the Pride were able to finish the match as yet another kill by Bal wrapped up the CAA victory.
Both teams will go to battle again on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman
