HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- After dropping the first set, the Towson University women's volleyball team stormed past Hofstra University to pick up the Tigers' first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) win of the year.

Staring down a long road late in fourth with Hofstra leading 24-21, Towson (13-1, 1-1 CAA) surged back to tie the set 24-24 before ultimately taking the match 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 27-25) with a 6-1 run, splitting the weekend set at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center.

Towson had three double-doubles in the Tigers' first four setter of the season, led by 29 assists and 19 digs from Kristin Spengler. Fay Bakodimou added 15 kills with 10 digs while Emily Jarome notched 10 kills and 13 digs. Lydia Wiers (12) and Nina Cajic (11) hit double figure kills as well.

Hofstra (7-6, 1-1 CAA) had a double-double from Ana Martinovic with 14 kills and 10 digs. Florencia Wolkowyski joined Bakodimou with the match-high of 15 kills. Beatriz Alves posted 37 assists, a match high, while Chiara Cucco picked up 26 digs.

How it Happened

• Coming off a five set loss on Saturday, Towson was a little slow out of the gate, falling behind 6-1 in the opening set. The Tigers surged back to tie the action at 6-6, getting kills from Bakodimou and Cajic in the 5-0 run.
• After a pair of ties, Hofstra strung together a 7-0 run to take control at 15-8. After struggling to pull within striking distance, Towson put down a small 3-0 surge to make it a one-point set at 21-20 Hofstra. A 3-0 Pride run put the hosts on set point before back-to-back points from Towson made it a 24-22 set. A Tiger attack error was the difference as Hofstra took a 1-0 lead in the match after a 25-22 decision in the opener.
• The second set was another slow start for Towson, which fell behind 5-2 quickly. Hofstra held the lead at 9-6 before Towson put away four unanswered points to grab a 10-9 lead. Both sides scored 3-0 runs several times before Hofstra logged a 4-1 burst to tie the action 17-17.
• Hofstra took a 20-19 lead late in the second set and threatened to go up two sets to none but Towson closed on a 6-1 run, including a 4-0 surge late with some combination of Bakodimou and Wiers in on all four of those points. Towson tied the match at 1-1 with the 25-21 decision.
• Set three was tight early before Towson, which trailed 6-4, went for a 5-0 run to go up by three at 9-6. It was the Pride's turn to come back and take the lead as the hosts went on a 5-1 spurt for a 13-12 advantage.
• Hofstra held a two-point edge for the next several rallies before Towson was sparked to a 5-1 run to grab a 20-18 lead, with Wiers in on three of those points, including two block assists. The Pride came back to within one point at 20-19, but Towson went up 2-1 in the match behind a 5-0 run to end the third. Nikiya Mitchell scored two kills in the run and added a block assist with Jarome and Cajic for a 25-19 set win.
• The fourth frame featured three quick ties before Towson took an 11-7 lead with a 3-1 burst with points from Mitchell and Wiers. Hofstra made a 5-1 run to deadlock the action at 12-12.
• After several more ties, Hofstra looked to force a fifth set after taking a 22-19 lead with a 4-1 run. Bakodimou halted the chance with a kill, but the Pride reached set point, 24-21. Not wanting to go to five again, Towson fought off three set points with a 4-0 run, including three points with Bakodimou on to serve, putting Towson up  25-24.
• Hofstra answered back to deadlock the fourth 25-25 on a Martinovic kill, but back-to-back kills from Jarome and Morgan Wilson got the Tigers a 27-25 decision and a 3-1 win in the match.

Behind the Numbers

• Towson avoided the sweep thanks to a balanced attack. Bakodimou led the way in the match with 15 kills, hitting at .324 in the match. Wiers finished with 12 kills on 20 chances with a .500 percentage while Cajic (11) and Jarome (10) also hit into double figures. Jarome went for a .417 hitting day with 24 swings and no errors.
• The Tigers had another big effort at the net, finishing with 14 total blocks. Mitchell neared her career best with another seven stops, including six assisted blocks. Wiers, Cajic and Jarome added four blocks assisted while Wiers and Cajic added solo stuffs as well.
• Four Tigers grabbed double digit digs, getting 19 from Spengler, who added 29 helpers for another double-double. Libero Rachel Hess finished with 14 while Jarome (13) and Bakodimou (10) finished with doubles as well.
• Hofstra's Wolkowyski equaled the match best with 15 kills as Alves added 37 assists and three kills at setter. Cucco finished with a match high 26 digs with Sarah Pierre aiding the defense with six assisted blocks, alongside four from Athina Dimitriadis.
• Towson hit for .280 in the match while limiting Hofstra to a .149 in the match. 
• The Tigers avoided the sweep after dropping a five set match on Saturday. The Tigers have not been swept by the Pride since the 2013 campaign.

Up Next for Towson

• After its first out of state trip this season, the Tigers return to the friendly confines of SECU Arena for a pair against UNCW on Saturday and Sunday.
• The Tigers and Seahawks clash for two with first serve set for 2 p.m. on both days.
• Both matches will be carried on FloVolleyball.
• The pair against UNCW opens a two-weekend homestand for the Tigers, who take on Elon on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 at SECU Arena as well.
• Tickets for the 2021 season can be purchased here.