📹 (1/2) | After a 13-day absence from competition, NU made the most of its return to the floor on Saturday, improving its season record to 7-2 (4-1 CAA North).

Head coach Lenika Vazquez provides her thoughts on the #HowlinHuskies' straight-set victory against Hofstra: pic.twitter.com/pwtCAatW8w

— Northeastern Volleyball (@GoNUwvolleyball) March 27, 2021

BOSTON – With Nailah Jenkins hounding the middle on Saturday, the Northeastern volleyball team cruised to the straight-set victory against Hofstra at Cabot Center: 25-18, 28-26, 25-16.
 
Jenkins relentlessly factored into all aspects of the Huskies' game, earning her match high, 12 kills, on 22 attacks while hitting .364 at the net. The sophomore also delivered four blocks (featuring two solo rejections) while controlling four digs and serving four of the team's seven aces.
 
Northeastern (7-2, 4-1 CAA North) made the most of its first match in 13 days, having missed the opportunity to play last weekend due to COVID-19 protocols affecting Towson. The Huskies' attack fell more and more into rhythm as the match went on, completing the third set with 12 kills against two attack errors across 32 swings (hit .313).
 
Erica Staunton (eight kills, nine digs) and Defne Arliel (eight kills, eight digs) toyed with double-doubles for Northeastern while Marika Virthe came through with eight kills and four blocks. Samantha Shupe set 28 of the Huskies' 38 kills while Kayla Martin and Maddie Donaphon tracked down 12 and 11 digs, respectively.
 
Northeastern sped away from the first set's 9-9 tie, scoring seven consecutive points to put it out of reach. Despite controlling the narrow 11-10 advantage in first set kills, the Huskies capitalized on 13 total errors by the Pride, easing to the early match lead.

Hofstra (3-4, 0-4 CAA North) responded during the second set, dueling the Huskies to 12 tied scores and denying NU during each of its first three set points at 24-21. After Staunton's kill had leveled the set again at 26-26, Martin delivered the timely ace that put the Huskies back on top, allowing Arliel to clinch the victory with her fourth kill of the set.
 
With Northeastern facing the 7-4 deficit early during the third set, Virthe registered consecutive kills that shifted momentum back in the Huskies' favor. From there, NU sprinted to the finish line, winning 18 of the next 24 points.
 
Juliana Vaz led Hofstra with 10 kills and 11 digs while Maddie Appleton paced all defensive specialists with 19 digs.
 
Prior to Saturday, Northeastern had already clinched the No. 2 seed in the CAA North division in advance of next week's four-team conference tournament. The Huskies will oppose the No. 1 seed from the CAA South division during the league semifinal round on Friday, April 2, at Towson's SECU Arena.
 
#HowlinHuskies