Stony Brook, NY – Junior Michela Rucli had 10 kills, three blocks and a .714 attack percentage to lead the Hofstra Volleyball team to a five-set win over Long Island rival Stony Brook on Tuesday evening at Prichard Gymnasium. 

The win was Hofstra's second straight and third in their last four matches and improved the Pride's record to 3-4 this season. Stony Brook, which had won three of its last four heading into the contest, falls to 3-5. 

Hofstra had to rally early in the match as they dropped the first set, 25-15, before eventually capturing the next two sets to take a lead in the contest. After the Seawolves knotted the match at two sets apiece, Hofstra needed a win in the final stanza to earn the victory. The Pride was down 5-3 early on and would not take its first lead until the score was 8-7. After the score was tied at eight, Hofstra scored four straight, including kills from sophomore Laura Masciullo and freshman Emma Price, to take a commanding lead they would not relinquish. 

Masciullo and Price each finished with 10 kills for the Pride, while sophomore setter Luisa Sydlik tallied 48 assists and 12 digs. Emily Costello tallied 19 kills for the Seawolves. 

Hofstra returns to action this weekend when it travels to the Hampton Inn Bama Bash at the University of Alabama. The Pride will face Furman and the Crimson Tide on Friday before taking on Tennessee State on Saturday. 

NOTES
- Hofstra is 7-1 all-time against Stony Brook. Since the series resumed in 2014 the Pride has 12 of the 14 sets contested. 
- Since the start of the 2016-17 athletic season, Hofstra is 6-3 against its Long Island rival in all team sports. 
- Hofstra dropped the first set of the match and has now lost the first set in each of the Pride's seven contests this season.