College of Charleston
Hofstra
VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO HOFSTRA IN FIVE SETS AT HOME
10/11/2014 1:50:00 AM | Volleyball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – For just the second time since joining the Colonial Athletic Association, College of Charleston volleyball fell at home to a conference opponent on Friday night, coming up short against Hofstra, 3-2 (25-17, 17-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-13) in front of a raucous home crowd at TD Arena.
Despite a 37-dig performance from senior libero Andi Zbojniewicz and having three players with double-digit kills, the Cougars (12-8, 4-1 CAA) couldn't overcome a .140 team hitting percentage – including 16 blocks from the Pride (18-2, 6-0 CAA) – eventually succumbing to the visitors in a five-set thriller.
Offensively, it was senior Cara Howley who led the way, grabbing 19 kills on 57 swings, while junior outside Melissa Morello pitched in with 18 kills and 18 digs, good enough for her league leading 14th double-double of the year – a feat matched only by teammate Kallie McKown who also registered 26 assists and 15 digs. Senior right-side Sloane White continued her efficient play, hitting .324 en route to 14 kills. Zbojniewicz's huge night marks the fifth highest single match dig total in program history.
On an off night from preseason conference player of the year Kelsie Wills (15 kills, .085 hitting percentage), it was teammates Nuria Lopes Da Silva and Veronika Kostova who picked up the slack, pacing the Pride with 20 and 17 kills, respectively. Recent CAA Offensive Player of the Week Hannah Klemm dished out 52 assists for Hofstra – who now sit undisturbed atop the conference standings.
After a difficult 25-17 game one loss, the Cougars were a much-improved team in the second set, taking a 7-5 lead following a kill from Howley. It remained close however, as the Cougars could extend their advantage no further than two until a back row attack error from Emily Burke gave the Cougars an 18-15 lead. Back-to-back kills from Howley and Morello saw the Cougars go up by five at 20-15, and it was smooth sailing from there as Morello – with The College leading 24-17 – who eventually hammered home the game winner.
The third set got away from the Cougars early, as the home side fell behind 7-2 following a service ace from Lopes da Silva. Hofstra maintained no less than a five point lead until the Cougars threatened at 17-13, but the Pride proved too tough, winning the third stanza, 25-20.
Ever-resilient, the Cougars again bounced back in game four, jumping out to 5-1 lead on kills from White and Morello. Back-and-forth, the Pride eventually managed to tie the frame at 11-11 on another big swing from Lopes da Silva, but the Cougars continued to get the better of play as Zbojniewicz and McKown turned up the defensive effort and White began to find alleys on the right side. Up 20-17, the Pride briefly threatened to cut in to the Cougars advantage, but a well-timed timeout from head coach Jason Kepner and a Mackenzie Cooler service ace put the Cougars on the brink of a deciding fifth frame. With a set point at 24-23, it was Morello who stepped up, hitting between a Hofstra double block to give the Cougars a critical game four victory, 25-23.
After falling behind 5-2 early in the fifth, the Cougars were back in it at 6-5 following another Hofstra attack error. The Pride briefly extended their lead to 11-7, but another timeout from Kepner seemed to stem the tide and The College quickly rattled off three straight points on kills from White and Morello, as well as an attack error from Kostova to close the gap to 11-10. A huge double block from White and the recently-inserted Maddie Hills gave the Cougars life and momentum at 13-13, but it was as close as CofC would come to victory as kills from Kostova and Lopes da Silva gave Hofstra the match.
It's a quick turnaround for The College, who returns to TD Arena tomorrow night to face Northeastern in a rematch of the 2013 CAA Championship final. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
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