West Point, NY – Freshman Laura Masciullo had an impressive debut for Hofstra with 20 digs and 11 kills, while senior Veronika Kostova led all players in the match with 18 kills as the Pride Volleyball team defeated Valparaiso in five sets to begin the 2016 campaign. 

Set scores were 25-23, 16-25, 25-21, 15-25 and 15-6 in favor of the Pride. 

Hofstra improves to 1-0 with the win, while Valpo falls to 1-1. 

It is no surprise that Hofstra would go to five sets to open the 2016 campaign as the 2015 season saw the Pride play a program-record 12 five-set matches. 

Hofstra won a tight first set as both team had strong defensive efforts before the Pride escaped with the two-point victory. The Crusaders would dominate in the second set, holding Hofstra to a zero hitting percentage as they knotted the match at one. 

The Pride would never trail overall in the match as they once again took the lead with a 25-21 win in the third stanza – out-hitting Valpo, .250 to .143. 

The Crusaders once again battled back and evened the match at two sets each with a strong showing in the fourth set. 

In the fifth and final set, Hofstra faced an early 3-1 deficit before reeling off an incredible 11 straight points to take a commanding 12-3 lead. Kostova was a force for the Pride in the final set as she notched four kills during the match-deciding run. 

The set would be 13-6 in favor of the Pride before consecutive kills from sophomore Nanishka Perez ended the match and gave Hofstra the victory. 

Perez finished with 12 kills, eight digs, three assists and three blocks for the Pride, while sophomore Luisa Domingues tallied a match-high 23 digs for Hofstra. Senior setter Hannah Klemm had 37 assists to lead Hofstra and freshman Luisa Sydlik posted 13 assists and four digs in her collegiate debut. 

Lizzie Zaleski had 19 assists and 10 digs for Valparaiso, while Katherine Carlson and Emily Campbell each posted 10 kills to lead the Crusaders. 

Hofstra has a pair of matches on the schedule Saturday as the Pride will face CSU Bakersfield at 2 p.m. and then Army West Point at 7 p.m. 

NOTES
- With a win in its season opener, Hofstra has now won five straight season openers. 
- Dating back to last season, Kostova has now reached double figures in kills in seven straight matches. 
- Today's win was the first-ever for Hofstra over Valparaiso. They last met in 2010.