JMU VOLLEYBALL FALLS AT HOFSTRA 3-1

Friday, September 29

Hempstead, N.Y.

7 p.m.

James Madison University

9-6 (4-3CAA)

Hofstra

10-5 (6-0CAA)

James Madison

Hofstra

9/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 29, 2006 - Senior middle blocker Elizabeth Curley (Centerville, Mass./Barnstable) registered 18 kills on .455 hitting to lead Hofstra University to a 3-1 win over James Madison University in Colonial Athletic Association volleyball on Friday night at the Physical Fitness Center.

HU (10-5, 6-0 CAA) defeated JMU (9-6, 4-3 CAA) by game scores of 30-21, 30-27, 23-30, and 30-27. The 6-0 start is the best ever in the CAA for Hofstra since joining the league in 2001. JMU had its five-game winning streak snapped and dropped its road record for the season to 0-4.

With game one tied at 14, Hofstra went on an 8-2 run to take a 22-16 lead and cruised from there to the 30-21 win. Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Engle (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) got the run started with a kill and then Rivera followed with back-to-back kills to key the beginning of the spurt.

Hofstra never trailed in the second game as Curley posted five of her 18 kills. The Pride led 11-6 early and kept the Dukes at bay for the remainder of the game before Beverly Rivera (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) ended the second stanza with her fifth kill of the game.

The Dukes jumped out to a huge 16-5 lead in the third game and never looked back in winning by the score of 30-23. Junior Allyson Halls (Columbus, Ohio/Olentangy) led the offensive onslaught for JMU in the game as she slammed down eight kills.

The fourth game featured five ties and four lead changes. The Dukes looked to be in control of the game as Halls keyed a 4-0 run that gave JMU a 23-20 advantage. Hofstra gradually fought back and a kill from junior setter Shellane Ogoshi (Honolulu, Haw./Roosevelt) and back-to-back attack errors from James Madison gave the Pride a 25-24 lead and forced James Madison to call a time-out. Following the break, Hofstra scored four of the next six points to take control and pull out the victory.

Curley led HU with 18 kills, five digs, and five blocks, including four solo blocks. Rivera finished with 17 kills and 10 digs for a double-double. Engle contributed 15 kills and a team-high 17 digs for a double-double of her own. Ogoshi, who shared CAA Player of the Week with Halls last week, had 53 assists and 11 digs. Catherine Durakis (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) tallied 14 digs while Dana Schaefer added seven kills and 12 digs.

Halls finished with 24 kills and just three errors for a .525 attack percentage. The 24 kills were a career high and gave her at least 20 in three of the last four matches. Sophomore Michelle Johnson (Los Gatos, Calif./Los Gatos) chipped in 12 kills and four blocks. Senior Ashley Copenhaver