HEMPSTEAD, NY — The Hofstra volleyball team fell to James Madison University (JMU) on Friday, Nov. 15, in straight sets, with scores of 25-17, 25-20 and 25-19 at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center. The loss drops the Pride to 17-10 overall, as well as 10-5 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play, while JMU improves to 18-7 and 12-3 in conference play.

The JMU Dukes got off to a blazing start and prevented Hofstra from gaining any momentum throughout the first set. JMU jumped out to a quick 9-5 lead that forced Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur to call a timeout.

Even after the break, the Pride continued to struggle and failed to cut their deficit to fewer than three points. As JMU broke away, Sophia Davis took over and tallied four kills to lead the Dukes on a 6-2 run to close out the set, 25-17. 

Hofstra came out strong early in the second set as Madeline Matheny and Laura Masciullo both recorded two kills each to put the Pride in front, 5-1. The momentum shifted back to JMU, however, as the Dukes won nine out of the next 13 rallies to take a 10-9 lead.

Holding on to a one-point advantage, the Dukes used a 5-1 scoring run to take the set, 25-20.

JMU finished off the Pride with another commanding win in set three, taking it by a score of 25-19. Like in the first set, the Dukes never trailed. Hofstra kept it close until halfway through, when Davis took control once again to lead JMU on a 7-2 run to complete the sweep.

“We didn’t play the way that we can, especially in a match that we know [we’ve] got to go all out [in],” Mansur said. “And today was not a day that our girls put everything that they can and go home and say, ‘Hey, we did all we could.’”

Hofstra’s defense faltered all throughout the match and allowed JMU to take over in all three sets.

“The difference is heart and today our heart was not here and ready to go,” Mansur said. “Right now, it’s us and how much we wanted to make this happen. If we want to make this happen, we’ve got to challenge every team.”

The offense failed to come together as well for the Pride, as Masciullo was the only player to reach double digit kills with 10. For the Dukes, Davis led the way with 19 kills, followed by Briley Brind’Amour with 17.

Hofstra finishes its regular season on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. when they host the University of Delaware in another CAA matchup. The Pride will also honor seniors Masciullo, Luisa Sydlik and Eliska Truneckova as they wrap up their Hofstra regular-season careers.

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics