Hempstead, NY – Freshman middle blocker
Michela Rucli led a balanced attack with nine kills and a career-high tying nine blocks as the Hofstra Volleyball team easily dismissed of Northeastern on Sunday afternoon at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center.
Set scores were 25-8, 25-23 and 25-17 in favor of Hofstra, which improved to 17-9 and 8-3 in Colonial Athletic Association play. Northeastern fell to 4-22 and 1-10 in league action with the loss.
The first set couldn't have gone any better for Hofstra as the Pride hit at a .500 clip (11 kills, one error, 20 attempts), while holding Northeastern to a negative .061 attack percentage.
The Huskies battled hard in the second set as the stanza featured six tie scores and two lead changes before Hofstra rallied late and earned a narrow two-point win.
The final set was similar to the opening of the match as Hofstra was in complete control and would easily put the finishing touches on its third win in its last four matches with the dominating sweep. All three wins during the stretch have come in sweeps.
Sophomore middle blocker
Leticia Valente and junior right side
Veronika Kostova each tallied eight kills in the match, with Valente adding five blocks and Kostova chipping in with three.
Junior setter
Hannah Klemm totaled 34 assists, six digs and two blocks for the Pride, while senior defensive specialist
Corrina Delgadillo and junior defensive specialist
Sophia Black added 12 and 10 digs, respectively.
Northeastern got 10 assists and 10 digs from Kristen Walding, while Jamie Bredahl had 13 assists, five digs and three blocks. Laynie Whitehead led the Huskies with seven kills.
Hofstra returns to action on Friday, November 6 when it hosts Towson at 7 p.m.
NOTES- Hofstra is now 38-11 all-time against Northeastern and has won five straight against the Huskies.
- Rucli established her career-high of nine blocks against Kent State on August 28.
- The eight points allowed in the first set were the fewest Hofstra has allowed in a set (non-fifth set) since November 17, 2012 when Hofstra defeated Towson, 25-7, in the second set of a five-set win in the CAA Championship semifinals.
