Towson, MD - The Hofstra volleyball team battled back from an 0-2 hole to send the match to a decisive fifth set, but the Pride was unable to complete the stunning comeback as they fell in five sets to Towson on Sunday afternoon at SECU Arena. Today's match decided the regular season Colonial Athletic Association title with Towson earning the top seed and Hofstra being the number two seed next weekend. 

Freshman Izadora Stedile had a season-best 21 kills and added eight digs, three blocks, and two assists in the match, while the Pride also got 37 assists, 10 digs, and four kills from sophomore Beatriz Alves. 

Hofstra finishes the regular season with a 17-11 overall mark and a 14-2 record in CAA play. Towson is 26-1 and 15-1 in the league. Set scores were 25-12, 25-21, 15-25, 21-25, and 15-11 in favor of the Tigers. 

The Pride dropped the first two sets before battling back and dominating the third set to close the gap. After a close win in the fourth set, it would be one set to decide the match between the two best teams in the CAA. Towson jumped out to a lead in the final set and the Pride would gradually chip away at the deficit. Hofstra would get as close as three in the final moments at 14-11 before the Tigers captured the match. 

Senior Zyare Abdul-Rahim added 12 kills and four blocks for the Pride, which also got eight kills, 12 digs, four assists, and three service aces from freshman Clara Bal. Sophomore Chiara Cucco added 11 digs.

Nina Cajic had 21 kills and five blocks for Towson and Katie McCracken posted 25 assists and 18 digs. 

Hofstra will next be in action at the CAA Championship starting on Thursday. The two-seeded Pride will take on William & Mary in the quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The semifinals are slated for 6:30 p.m. on Friday and the championship match will be at 6 p.m. on Saturday. All the matches will air on FloVolleyball. The tournament will be played at SECU Arena at Towson. 

NOTES
- Hofstra is now 46-22 all-time against Towson. 
- Alves moved into 10th place all-time in assists at Hofstra with 2,078. She passed Beth Arnette, who had 2,027 from 2000-03. 
- Stedile's previous season-high of 17 kills most recently occurred against Northeastern on November 6. 
- The double-double was the team-leading 10th of the season for Alves. 
- It marked Hofstra's first five-set match of the season and came in the regular season finale.