Hofstra Volleyball Team Defeated By Towson
Hempstead, NY - Redshirt freshman outside hitter Nikki Kinnier posted a match-high 15 kills and added nine digs for Hofstra, but it was not enough as Towson earned a three-set (25-22, 28-26, 26-24) victory over the Pride on Sunday afternoon in the Physical Education Building.
Towson, which had five players with at least five kills, improved to 13-12 overall and 1-7 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play with the win. Hofstra falls to 9-19 and 2-7 in conference action.
Leading the way for the Tigers was Amanda Halls with nine kills, 10 digs and three blocks.Towson, looking for its first conference win of the season, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the match as they won the first two sets.
The Tigers broke an early 3-3 tie in the first stanza as they scored four straight points, including three straight attack errors from the Pride, to lead 7-3.
Towson would hold Hofstra at bay the remainder of the set as Hofstra only got as close as two, 24-22, late in the set before a kill from Britney Loomis gave the Tigers the 25-22 victory.
The second set was a tight affair as it went to "overtime" and featured 13 tie scores and six lead changes before Towson escaped with a narrow two-point victory.
Both squads had several opportunities to put the set away as Hofstra's first set point came at 24-23 after sophomore middle blocker Carolyn Jenkins set up the possible set point with a kill. Towson rallied and got their first chance at 26-25 before graduate student outside hitter Marina Markovic knotted the score at 26 with a kill.
The Tigers quickly regained the lead, though, as back-to-back attack errors from the Pride gave Towson the necessary two points to win the second stanza, 28-26.Towson looked to be in complete control in the third set as the Tigers led 24-17 after a kill from Halls.
Hofstra had a rally left in them, though, as the strong serving of senior setter Rachel August catapulted the Pride on a 7-0 scoring run that saw them tie the score at 24 on an attack error from Towson.
The Tigers were forced to call both of their timeouts during the run and August added a service ace to help the Pride even the score. It was not to be, though, as Towson scored the final two points of the set, including a service ace at match point from Halls to win the contest in three sets.
Jenkins added eight kills and four blocks for Hofstra, while Markovic had seven kills and 12 digs and August added 31 assists.
Evan Schulz had 32 assists, five digs and two blocks for Towson, while Susan Gansor chipped in eight kills and six blocks for the Tigers.
Hofstra returns to action on Tuesday when they host Siena at 7 p.m. They will return to CAA play next weekend when they host William & Mary on Friday and Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday.
