The Hofstra volleyball team dropped a tough Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) match against Towson University on Sunday, Oct. 27, losing in four sets. Despite a hot start that resulted in a 25-21 win in set one for the Pride, they lost the next three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-17 and 25-21. The loss drops their record to 14-9 overall, as well as 7-4 in CAA play. Towson improves to 20-2 overall and remains undefeated in conference play at 10-0.
The Pride came out roaring in set one and jumped out to an early 10-3 lead. Later in the set, Ana Martinovic gave Hofstra their largest lead with her second kill to put them up 17-7. Towson fought back, however, and went on a 12-4 scoring run to narrow their deficit down to only two points. With the score at 24-21 in favor of Hofstra, Laura Masciullo delivered the finishing blow to Towson that put the Pride up 1-0 in the match.
Towson came back strong in the second set and evened up the match with a tight 25-23 victory. The Tigers led the entire way and used a pair of 6-1 runs to pull ahead big. After Masciullo tied the score at ten, Towson broke free and took a 16-11 lead. Masciullo brought the Pride back again to within one but her set-high eight kills were not enough. Annie Ertz delivered the set-clinching kill and crushed any hope of a comeback for Hofstra. Towson was led by Camryn Allen’s four service aces as well as four kills each by Lydia Wiers and Silvia Grassini to even the match at one.
Towson carried their momentum over to the third set and cruised to a 25-17 win. The Tigers did not trail once again, but Hofstra kept it close early on. Towson used a 9-2 tear to go up 16-9 and put the set out of reach. An attack error by Athina Dimitriadis gave the Tigers their largest lead of the night at 22-13. The Pride could not recover and dropped their second straight set.
The final set was a hard fought battle that featured 10 ties and four lead changes. Towson prevailed in the end, 25-21, to win the match over the Pride. Hofstra trailed early, but went on a 4-0 run to go in front 7-6. The score went back and forth until Hofstra took a 17-14 lead that forced Tigers head coach Don Metil to call a timeout. Towson came out of the break on fire and went on a 11-4 tear to take the match.
“There were some good things and we were definitely better than the last time we played them,” said Hofstra head coach Emily Mansur. “Now we have to just keep working hard.”
Strong efforts from Masciullo (23 kills), Luisa Sydlik (31 assists) and Juliana Vaz (22 digs) were not enough to power the Pride past the top team in the CAA. Towson was led by Wiers (13 kills) and Marrisa Wonders (49 assists). Grassini, Olivia Finckel and Emily Jarome each tallied 11 kills as well for the Tigers.
“I think both teams respect each other. It’s always going to be a good match and it was just a tough day in this gym,” Mansur said. “We’re going to keep working to make things better.”
The Pride will start a three-match road trip on Saturday, Nov. 2, when they take on Northeastern University at 4 p.m.
“We have to get better on the road,” Mansur said. “We have to really start to improve ourselves and really focus on what we have to do to get to the championship.”
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
