Hempstead, NY – Sophomore Kelsie Wills posted a match-high 12 kills for Hofstra, but a balanced Northeastern attack led the Huskies to a three-set win over the Pride on Saturday evening at the Hofstra Fitness Center.
Set scores were 25-15, 25-22 and 25-15 for Northeastern, which improved to 17-3 and 6-0 in conference play. Hofstra falls to 14-11 and 2-4 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action with the loss.
Northeastern got 11 kills and six digs from Janelle Tucker, while Jillian Briner added eight kills, nine digs and three blocks.
The Huskies pulled away early in the first set as they led 13-4 following a Briner kill. Hofstra was never seriously able to challenge the rest of the way as Northeastern won by 10. The Huskies hit at a .444 clip in the stanza, while holding Hofstra to a .000 hitting percentage.
The second set was the closest of the contest as Hofstra led throughout. A service ace from Wills late in the set would give the Pride a 20-18 lead, forcing Northeastern into its first time out of the stanza. Wills would add two more service aces after the time out, giving Hofstra a four-point advantage at 22-18. Northeastern was not to be denied, though, as thanks to the stellar serving of Kelly Bacon the Huskies scored the final seven points of the set to win 25-22.
Northeastern used a pair of runs in the first half of the third set to take a insurmountable 20-9 lead en route to the 25-15 victory in the third and final set. An early 4-1 run broke an three-all tie and later the Huskies added an 11-3 run to push the lead to 11 points.
Natalia Skiba's 11 digs led all players.
Hofstra returns to action next Friday, October 19 when it travels to Towson for a 7 p.m. match.
