Hofstra volleyball falls in straight sets to Delaware

The Hofstra volleyball team returned to action Wednesday, March 24, after a 17-day hiatus between matches due to a positive COVID-19 case within the Hofstra organization. The Pride fell on the road to the University of Delaware in straight sets 26-28, 24-26, 22-25 at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The match marks the third straight loss for Hofstra after starting the season 3-0. The Pride now sits 3-3 and 0-3 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play.

Delaware started the day hot, opening a quick 3-0 lead before Hofstra rattled off a run to tie the opening set. Claire Flood took control early for Delaware, sparking a 5-0 run including two aces to give the Blue Hens an 8-3 lead.

After exchanging points, back-to-back aces by Hofstra’s Ana Martinovic tied the game at 13 all. The two teams continued to exchange points until two attack errors by Delaware gave the Pride a 23-22 lead, prompting a timeout for the Blue Hens.

Delaware responded with back-to-back points, taking a 24-23 lead and forcing a Pride timeout. After exchanging points, the Blue Hens took the first set 28-26 after an attack error by Martinovic.

The two evenly matched teams played back-and-forth the entire second set with neither team taking a firm lead until the final points. Following a Pride timeout and a trailing 23-21 lead, Juliana Vaz put down a kill to pull the Pride within one.

Following another Pride error, Vaz struck again followed by a Delaware attack error to tie the set at 24.

After a Delaware timeout, a Hofstra error gave the Hens a 25-24 lead and Ezgi Basaranlar ended the set with an ace to give the Blue Hens a two-set advantage.

Hofstra jumped out front early in set three with Damla Tokman setting the tone for the Pride. After an Athina Dimitriadis kill and a Delaware error, the Blue Hens faced a 11-7 deficit and took a timeout.

Delaware came out of the timeout with a 6-1 run, taking the lead at 13-12. Two straight errors gave the Pride back the lead but the Blue Hens responded again with a 4-0 run to take the lead for good.

Martinovic led the Pride with 16 kills in the match, followed by Vaz’s 10 kills. Maddie Appleton ended with 19 digs while Maria Branco recorded 40 assists.

The Blue Hens were led by Flood’s 14 kills with Adelina Rivera and Lauryn Richardson both recording 10 kills.

Delaware had eight aces in the match compared to Hofstra’s two. The Blue Hens also had five blocks while the Pride ended with three.

The Pride will head to Northeastern University for a weekend doubleheader against the Huskies. The first match is slated for Saturday, March 27 at 2 p.m.

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics