By Kevin Carroll - ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
The Hofstra Pride volleyball team rolled into the gym of CAA rival Northeastern on Wednesday looking for a win to open up conference play, and they were able to pull one out in dramatic fashion. The Pride rallied from two sets down against the Huskies, managing to pull out a 3-2 win over Northeastern to open up CAA play.
It was the second time in eleven days that the Pride managed to rally from two sets down, having done so against Florida Gulf Coast on September 12th. Veronika Kostova led the Pride with 16 kills, and Leticia Valente continued her strong debut season for Hofstra, notching 11 kills and 5 blocks. Hannah Klemm added 49 assists for the Pride.
The first set featured the Pride playing catch-up from start to finish, trying to reach the Huskies on the scoreboard. Hofstra did manage to tie the set up at 21 thanks to a Huskie error, but Northeastern rallied with three straight points, and took the first set 25-22. The second set was more of the same story, with Northeastern always staying just out ahead of the Pride. Northeastern used a couple key runs, including winning the last five consecutive points of the set to win 25-19 and take a two sets to none advantage over the Pride.
The Pride had gained crucial experience playing with their backs against the wall, and came out hot in the third set, leading 13-4 halfway through the set. Hofstra kept the pressure on, forcing seven Huskie errors down the stretch to win the third set easily, 25-19. The Pride had an even easier time in the fourth set, controlling the set from start to finish en route to a 25-15 win, forcing a decisive fifth set.
Two attack errors from Northeastern’s Brigitte Burcescu put the Pride out in front early in the fifth and final set. Burcescu rallied back though, notching two straight kills to even the set up at two. From then on, both teams traded points, each trying to withstand the other team’s best shot. In the end, Hofstra was able to gain a crucial edge late in the set, going up 14-11 on the Huskies, while the referee issued a yellow card to the Northeastern bench for misconduct.
The Huskies rallied to make it 14-13, but Sophia Black quieted any chance of a rally, slamming home the final kill of the day for the Pride, winning the set 15-13, and claiming victory in their conference opener.
Burcescu led the Huskies with 14 kills, and Caterina Rosander followed her up with 13 kills and 7 blocks.
The Pride volleyball team returns to Hempstead for their next matchup, a date with William and Mary Friday night at 7:00, at the Mack Physical Education Center.