TOWSON, Md. – Four players each recorded a match-high seven kills to lead the Towson University volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Hofstra University on Friday night in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action.

The Tigers, who avenged an early season loss to the Pride, moved into a tie for third place in the CAA standings and clinched a spot in the upcoming CAA Tournament on "Autism Awareness" night.

THE BASICS
Towson 3, Hofstra 0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-23)
SECU Arena, Towson, Md.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Towson opened the first set on a 10-5 run as junior Payton Windell had a pair of early kills. The Tigers pushed their lead to 16-9 on a block from redshirt senior Candace Steadman and freshman Annie Ertz. Hofstra used a 5-1 run to pull to within three, 17-14. Nanishka Perez had a kill and a pair of service aces for the Pride (19-8, 9-5 CAA) during that stretch. Windell's fourth kill of the set pushed the Towson (21-7, 8-5 CAA) lead to four, 20-16. The two teams traded points before a kill from sophomore Jocelyn Kuilan gave Towson a 25-21 first set win.
• With the second set tied at 11-11, the Black and Gold attack used a 10-4 run to take a 21-15 lead. Ertz had three kills during that key stretch while Steadman contributed a kill and a pair of blocks. The two teams continued to battle before a kill from senior Jessica Lewis closed out a 25-19 set win and gave Towson a 2-0 lead in the match.
• The third set was the closest of the match as the two teams fought through 12 ties and two lead changes. A kill from Ertz tied the set at 11-11 but Hofstra responded with a 4-1 run and took a 15-12 advantage. Towson head coach Don Metil called timeout and the Tigers responded by scoring nine of the next 14 points to take a 21-20 lead. Steadman and Lewis each had a kill and a block during that run. Hofstra called timeout and after the break the Tigers scored two of the next three points and took a 23-21 lead. A service ace from Luisa Sydlik allowed Hofstra to tie the set at 23-23. A service error by the Pride put the Tigers up 24-23. Ertz then sneaked a ball just inside the line closest to the benches for a service ace and a Towson 25-23 set win.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Tigers wore their blue jerseys as part of the "Aces for Autism" program during the match.
• Towson moved into a three-way tie for third place in the CAA standings with James Madison and the College of Charleston. The three teams sit just one-game behind second-place Hofstra in the win column.
• When the two teams met in early October, Hofstra hit .310 with 61 kills while holding the Tigers to a .263 hitting percentage with 58 kills. Tonight, Hofstra hit just .057 with 26 kills while the Tigers hit .157 with 40 kills.
• Steadman finished with seven kills and a team-high six blocks. She became the 11^th player in program history to record at least 300 career blocks.
• Lewis finished with seven kills and eight digs while senior Lindsay Flaherty had seven kills and two blocks. Windell contributed seven kills and two digs.
• Redshirt sophomore Anna Holehouse and Kuilan tied for the team lead with 11 digs.
• Freshman Marrisa Wonders posted 17 assists and eight digs.
• Laura Masciullo, who led all players with 18 kills the first time the two teams met, led Hofstra with six kills and eight digs.

The Tigers wrap up their home slate when they host Northeastern on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. The Tigers will honor Steadman, Flaherty and Lewis prior to the start of the match.