Hempstead, NY – Sophomore outside hitter Kelsie Wills tied her career-high with 24 kills, while senior libero Kylee Maneja moved into third place all-time in digs as she posted 20 in the match to lead the Hofstra Volleyball team to a four-set victory (25-15, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23) over Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday evening at the Hofstra Asics Invitational.
The win moves Hofstra's record to 2-0 this season, while FDU falls to 0-2 with the loss.
Maneja now has 1,540 career digs in her three-plus seasons at Hofstra. She needs five to tie Lena Malinowski (1994-98) for second all-time, and 120 to tie Shellane Ogoshi (2004-07) for the top spot on the list.
Hofstra looked to be in control early on in the match as the Pride easily took the first set by the score of 25-15. Hofstra hit at a .333 clip, its highest of the match, in the first stanza while holding the Knights to a .107 attack percentage.
FDU fought back in the second set, earning a two-point win (25-23) to tie the match at one set apiece. It marked Hofstra's first dropped set of the season as the swept Providence earlier on Friday.
Hofstra was in trouble early in the third stanza before sophomore defensive specialist/setter Kainoa Ocasek keyed an important run with pinpoint serving to help the Pride to a 25-19 victory in the set.
It was another tight set in the fourth stanza, but Hofstra pulled it out late and moved to 2-0 on the season with a 25-23 win.
Junior middle blocker Nikki Kinnier chipped in with 11 kills and four blocks for Hofstra, while junior outside hitter Jovana Barisic added 10 kills.
FDU was led by Jordon Collis with 12 kills and Meaghan Wheeler with 11 digs and nine kills.
Hofstra returns to action tomorrow for day two of the Hofstra Asics Invitational. The Pride will face Marist at 12:30 p.m. and then close the tournament with a match against UC Riverside at 7:30 p.m.
