BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Long Island University volleyball team dropped its home opener to San José State on Thursday evening, falling in straight sets (25-23, 25-11, 26-24) at the Steinberg Center.
The visiting Spartans jumped out to an early 9-4 lead to kick off the opening set. LIU strung together a 5-1 run shortly after on a few SJSU errors along with a block assist from senior
Kora Schaberl and junior
Kristina Mamic along with a kill from freshman
Karolina Nova. The Spartans continued to hold the slight lead as the set wore on but the Sharks stayed with in striking distance, using a 4-1 run to tie the set up at 17-17. Both teams would trade a pair of runs from there as the set was tied up late at 21-21. A 3-1 run immediately after from the Spartans shifted the set to their favor. LIU would cut the deficit to one on two occasions with kills from Nova but a kill by SJSU took the set 25-23.
Momentum carried over for SJSU in the second set with a 12-4 start. The lead would continue to hold as the set wore on eventually earning a 25-11 second set win.
LIU responded with an opening 7-2 stretch to start the third set with kills from Nova, and freshman
Darragh Dixon along with a service ace from rookie
Miranda Strongman. SJSU responded with a 7-2 run to tie the set up at 7-7. LIU used kills from Schaberl and freshman
Barbora Hoskova to regain the lead briefly. An extended 8-2 stretch by the Spartans gave them back the lead at 15-11. The Sharks were right there to answer with a six-point run to jump back ahead 17-15. Both teams would trade points from there, as LIU would hold on to a one-point lead at 21-19. A three-point run shifted the lead back to the Spartans at 22-21. A kill from Nova broke up the run and tied the set at 22-22. Each team would go point-for-point to work to a 24-24 tie but a two-point swing by the Spartans claimed the set 26-24 and the match.
Nova led the LIU offense with 10 kills on the night. Senior
Amanda Hubbard registered 12 assists and Dixon added six to go along with six digs. Defensively, sophomore
Anastasia Scott recorded a match-high 18 digs.
UP NEXT
LIU continues its home stand tomorrow with a 6:00 p.m. match against Fordham.
