Hofstra Volleyball 2023

[triplec2195]

This team once again looks very good and will be quite competitive. We start the season beating Siena 3-0 on Friday then win our own invitational with wins over NJIT and Delaware State by large margins. Clara Bal was outstanding with 16 kills in both games on Saturday. A strong team effort from Yagmur Cinel, Beatriz Braga, Sarah Pierre, Chiara Cucco and of course Beatriz Alves with 81 assists in the two matches. Maybe this will be our year to win the CAA again.

[stuball888]

This team is very young
11 out of the 16 players
are either freshmen or sophomores
We are not a very big team
Only 1 player over6ft2 and only 5 players 6ft or bigger
Spoke with coach Mansur
She went for speed and skill set over height

[triplec2195]

Like the insight Stu with the coach that speaks volumes. This team has a nice mix of players and if we play anything like last year we will be tough. We weren't very big last year either but had good results.

[stuball888]

Hofstra beats Iona 3-0 by scores of 25-19 25-17 and 25-18. Workman like victories. We move to 4-0 on the season.
Up next a more formidable opponent in UConn

[Polito]

Great to see - a historically strong and proud program at this level.

A lot of international flavor on this team. Was wondering where they get their players, had to take a look. Feels like a similar program to womens soccer in terms of it's traditional success / place in the national / mid major pecking order...

I was around for Fran Kalafer, remember her teams always making noise. Even went to a couple of matches as a student because of how strong their rep was. A legendary coach at HU and in the sport nationally.

[stuball888]

Polito here is the skinny
I believe coach Emily Mansur is Portugese So she has conections to Brazil where Portugese is spoken
Now her husband is German hense all the Euro players we seem to get
Not a bad combination

[triplec2195]

France, Brazil(4), Turkey(2), Cyprus, Italy, Australia. Ten of the 16 roster players are foreigners and this past week freshman Beatriz Braga was named the CAA rookie of the week. Nice recruiting from this coaching staff.

[stuball888]

Impressive win over &UConn 3-1
After falling to UConn 25-16 in the first set we win the next three sets 25-19 25-14 and 25-13
UConn does not have a winning record but has played a tough OOC schedule so far.
Going in I thought it would be a toss up
Considering we won 3-1 on the road is very impressive for this young team

[triplec2195]

UCONN two losses were to Georgia and Florida State. IDK how good UCONN is but definitely an impressive win. This team has a lot of upside.

[stuball888]

this team has a killer instinct
they smell blood when their opponent is vulnerable
they ended the 3rd and 4th set on 6-0 and 6-1 runs

[stuball888]

So we played Merrimack and came away with an easy 3-0 victory by scores of 25-15 25-14 25-14
Coach Mansur was able to empty her bench and give the underclassmen significant playing time.
Iyanna Garvin (freshman) from Georgia Played outside hitter and had 10 kills
Mairi Hadjipetrov (soph) from Cyprus played setter and had 11 assists
Nil Kayaalp (freshman) from Turkey Played Libero and had 8 digs
Ashlynn Oliver (Freshman) from Texas also had time at Libero and had 5 digs
We seem to have a very talented young players

[triplec2195]

We lose our first game of the year 3-2 to Lehigh who came in with a 3-1 record. Relatively close matches we lose the last game 15-13. Lots to like about this game except the final score. So we're now 6-1 and we play Sacred Heart next week.

[stuball888]

Should we have won this match yes but this is not a bad loss. Lehigh will probably win the patriot and be in the NCAAs

[stuball888]

We rebound with a 3-0 win Over Sacred Heart on the road by scores of 25-21 25-20 and 25-16

[triplec2195]

This one was predictable as Sacred Heart came in 0-4 although the only blowout set was the third.

[Polito]

Digging it... and makes sense Stu.

Another program that doesn't seem to play a big OOC, so winning the CAA seems to be the primary and only goal in order to get ranked and make noise in the tourney.

I'm finding it odd these strong programs are not scheduling tougher OOC's to give themselves opps to make a name - winning the conf is likely the only way to the postseason anyway right? Shouldn't they all take a page out of hoops and put themselves on more of a national stage?

By the way, you all see Nebraska's record-setting volleyball event??! 90+k in the football stadium - I believe the biggest crowd to ever watch ANY women's sport if I'm not mistaken... super cool - even if it does confirm there is literally NOTHING to do in Nebraska! LOL

[HUSID80]

I remeber reading that that stadium is the second largest city in the state for football games!!!!

[stuball888]

First off let me break it down. The reason for a lighter OOC schedule r is the age of the team . Many underclassmen This year they get their toes wet Next season it will be mostly Spohs and juniors. Then its time to jump into the deeper part of the pool and make a splash.
Glad you brought up Nebraska. Name our last two opponents in the NCAA in Volleyball
You guessed it Nebraska
BTW their coach has the utmost respect for Emily Mansur and the Hofstra volleyball program

[Polito]

That makes sense Stu, appreciate the perspective. I like this coach, she seems to have this program headed in the right direction.

[triplec2195]

After losing the 1st set to Stonehill imagine that 25-21 we blow them out by scores of 25-20,25-15 and 25 -14. Stonehill hasn't won a game yet and I don't think they have been playing D1 very long. We move to 8-1.