VOLLEYBALL DUKES JUST SHORT IN TIGHT MATCH AT HOFSTRA

Sunday, September 11

Hempstead, N.Y.

James Madison University

Hofstra

9/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

HEMPSTEAD, New York * Sophomore right side Talita Silva (Raritan, NJ) tied for match-high honors with 20 kills and junior middle blocker Dana Schaefer (San Diego, CA) chipped in with six crucial kills in the latter part of the match as the Hofstra Volleyball team rallied from a two games to one deficit and earned a five-game victory (30-28, 27-30, 30-32, 30-26, 15-13) over James Madison on Sunday afternoon in the Volleyball Venue at the Physical Fitness Center.

The win was Hofstra's second straight to open Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play as the Pride evens its overall mark at 4-4 and are now 2-0 in CAA play. The Dukes, who defeated CAA newcomer Northeastern in four games on Friday evening, fall to 5-2 and 1-1 in conference action. JMU's start is its best since a 7-0 beginning to the 1999 season.
The win was also Hofstra's ninth straight home victory over a conference opponent.

Hofstra, which improved to 18-1 over the past two seasons when winning the first game, used a quick 2-0 run after James Madison tied the score at 22 late in game one to take the lead for good and earn the 30-28 win.

Sophomore setter Shellane Ogoshi (Honolulu, HI) gave the Pride the two-point advantage and Ogoshi would come up big on game point as well, knocking down her second kill of the first game.

Another tight game was in store for game two, with Hofstra looking poised to take a 2-0 lead, but the Dukes staged a late rally to stem the tide.

Trailing 24-22, James Madison scored three straight on kills by junior middle blocker Ashley Copenhaver (Hedgesville, WV), junior outside hitter Hanna Porterfield (Arlington, VA) and junior right side Bayli Stillwell (Steamboat Springs, CO) to take a 25-24 lead. After a Dukes service error tied the score, JMU closed the game by scoring five of the final seven points to even the match at one game apiece with a 30-27 victory.

The third stanza proved to be the tightest of the entire match, as it featured 19 tie scores and eight lead changes. Hofstra jumped out to an early 10-6 lead before James Madison eventually knotted the score at 12 following two straight attack errors from the Pride. Neither team would take larger than a two-point lead until Hofstra looked to take control after a kill from senior outside hitter Tessa Sphar (San Jose, CA) gave the Pride a 27-24 lead. The Dukes once again rallied though, and kills from Porterfield and senior outside hitter Emilee Hussack (Chambersburg, PA) sandwiched around a Pride attack error evened the score at 27. After a Sphar kill knotted the score for the 19th time at 30, Stillwell and Porterfield notched back-to-back kills to give the Dukes a 32-30 win in game three and a two games to one lead in the match.

A 6-2 run early in the fourth game allowed JMU to open a 12-10 lead following a Hussack kill. Back-to-back kills from junior outside hitter Beverly Rivera (Long Beach, NY) would tie the score at 14 before the Dukes used another 6-2 spurt to lead 20-16 after Copenhaver knocked down one of her 15 kills in the match. It didn't take long for Hofstra to erase that def