Hempstead, NY – Sophomore outside hitter Kelsie Wills had 16 kills and junior middle blocker Nikki Kinnier added 10 kills but it was not enough as the Hofstra Volleyball team dropped a close four-set match to LIU Brooklyn on Tuesday evening at the Mack Physical Education Center.
The loss was the Pride's third straight and drops their record to 9-5 this season. LIU Brooklyn improves to 5-5 with the victory.
LIU Brooklyn, which got a match-high 20 kills from Annika Foit, jumped out to an early lead in the match as they earned a 25-21 win in the opening set.
The second stanza would be the closest of the match as it featured 12 tie scores and six lead changes with Hofstra finally able to knot the match at one set apiece with a 26-24 victory.
In the all-important third set, the Blackbirds hit at a .481 clip en route to a 25-20 victory that put LIU Brooklyn ahead 2-1 in the match.
Hofstra looked to be in control late in the fourth set as they had multiple opportunities to capture the set and send the match to a fifth and final set, but LIU Brooklyn had other ideas as they rallied and eventually won by the score of 26-24 to earn the win.
Senior setter Catalina Charry also had a solid match for the Pride as she contributed six kills, 24 assists, seven digs and two blocks. Senior libero Kylee Maneja, who was honored before the match for becoming the program record holder for digs in a career, had a team-high 13 digs in the contest.
Vera Djuric added 42 assists, eight digs and five blocks for the Blackbirds.
Hofstra returns to action this weekend at the Columbia Invitational. The Pride will take on Rhode Island on Friday afternoon before facing Colgate and Columbia on Saturday.
