Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University volleyball returned to the court for the first time in 15 months and posted a dominating three-set victory over visiting NJIT at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center Saturday afternoon. Set scores were 25-14, 25-15, and 25-5.

Ana Martinovic led Hofstra (1-0) with 10 kills and 10 digs. Madeline Matheny added nine kills and eight digs, while Athina Dimitriadis had eight kills. Sarah Pierre contributed five kills and six blocks and Zyare Abdul-Rahim posted five kills and five blocks. Maddie Appleton directed the Pride's balanced attack with 31 assists and added four digs.

The first and second sets were both close early until the Pride used a pair of runs to break them open. In set one, the score was tied at seven when Hofstra scored nine unanswered points to take control. Matheny had three kills during the run while Martinovic added a kill and a service ace. In set two, the Pride used an 8-0 spurt to turn an 8-6 lead to a 16-6 advantage. Matheny once again was a difference maker as she had three kills and a block assist in that run with Dimitriadis adding a kill and a service ace.

The third set was all Hofstra as the Pride raced out to a 12-0 lead, aided by six NJIT errors. Pierre had two kills and a block assist to jumpstart the Pride in the set.

Elley Torres and Emma Godwin each had four kills for NJIT.

Hofstra will be back in action Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. when it takes on Stony Brook at the Mack Physical Education Center. The match is closed to the public and there are no tickets available.

Notes:
-Hofstra is 6-0 all-time versus NJIT.
-Abdul-Rahim and Pierre were both making their debuts for the Pride after sitting out during the 2019 season.
-Libero Julianna Vaz had eight digs for Hofstra.
-The Pride hit .397 as a team with just seven hitting errors in the match.
-Hofstra has won 10 consecutive home openers.
-The five points scored in the third set by NJIT was the fewest allowed by the Pride in a non-fifth set since limiting Southern Utah to five on Sept. 8, 2018.