TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team squared off against the Hofstra Pride this afternoon at SECU Arena in a pivotal Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The Tigers (25-1, 14-1 CAA) swept the Pride (17-10, 14-1 CAA) 25-20, 25-14, 25-21 to set up a decisive match tomorrow to decide the CAA regular season champion.
 
Key Stats vs Hofstra:

• Towson totaled eight blocks this afternoon compared to only two by Hofstra.
• The Tigers finished 39 kills on a .311 hit percentage, including a .394 hit percentage in the first set.
• Towson held the Cougars to a .132 hit percentage with a .032 hit percentage in the second set.

 
How It Happened vs Hofstra:

• Towson jumped out to a 5-2 lead, but the Pride tied the score at five after scoring three consecutive points. The teams went back and forth with the Tigers having a 9-7 lead, then Hofstra scored four points in a row to have an 11-9 lead.
• The Tigers were able to chip away at the lead and tie the score at 14, then Towson went on a 6-3 run to take a 20-17 lead. The Tigers closed out the first set with a 5-2 run behind two kills from Aayinde Smith to win the set 25-20.
• Towson came out to start the second set with a 9-1 run, including scoring the first seven points. The Tigers continued to grow their lead, stretching the score out to 19-8.
• Towson and Hofstra traded points until the Tigers won the set 25-14 with Fay Bakodimou scoring three of Towson's four final points in the second set.
• The third set started with both teams going back and forth, but the Tigers were able to gain a 10-7 lead after three consecutive points, including two kills from Bakodimou. Towson maintained a three-point lead until the Tigers scored four unanswered points to have a 19-12 lead.
• Hofstra brought the deficit to one after an 8-2 run, but Towson countered with a 4-1 run to seal the set (25-21) and the match victory.

 
Inside the Numbers vs Hofstra:

• Nina Cajic led the Tigers' offense with a team-high ten kills and a .529 hit percentage. This is the ninth time this season that Cajic finished with a hit percentage above .500
• Trinity Burge finished with her first double-double this season with a team-best 15 assists and ten digs. Burge, who entered the match with nine assists in seven games this season, had 10 helpers in the first set.
• Rachel Hess led Towson with 11 digs and totaled seven assists.
• Victoria Barrett finished with nine kills, two digs, one ace, one assist and one total block.
• Irbe Lazda, Lydia Wiers and Aayinde Smith all finished with total blocks this afternoon.
• Towson gained its 16th sweep of the season with nine of those sweeps coming in CAA play.

 
Next Game:
Towson will wrap up their regular season with Hofstra tomorrow at SECU Arena with the CAA regular season title on the line. The Tigers will honor seniors Lydia Wiers, Katie McCracken, Morgan Wilson, Asia Goins as well as graduate student Fay Bakodimou. Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2019, the seniors have compiled an 86-10 record and have been part of three CAA championship teams.