WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- A youthful Navy volleyball team which featured a starting lineup comprised of two freshmen and three players in all making the first start of their respective careers lost a four-set match to Hofstra, Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Gym in Winston-Salem, N.C.  The Pride (2-0), who swept weekend-host Wake Forest on Friday, posted a 25-22, 22-25, 25-18, 25-14 win over the Mids (0-2).

Freshmen Isa Boyd and Amara Chambers were first-time starters in Saturday's match, as was senior Lilly Lutz (had totaled three matches played in her first three seasons).  Rounding out the starting six were juniors Anuhea Hauanio-Lore (had started one match prior to Friday against West Virginia) and Ava Toppin (had made 10 starts prior to Friday) and sophomore Grace Burgoyne (made her first career start Friday).

In comparison, whereas Navy's starting six today has totaled 20 career starts, Hofstra's has totaled 276 through today's match.

"I thought our blocking and defensive execution were great in sets one, two and three," said Navy head coach Paco Labrador.  "We really made life tough on Hofstra for three sets.

"Hofstra has one of the best setters we will face this season in Beatriz Alves and she runs an elite system.  We knew after watching them beat a very talented Wake Forest team in three sets Friday that we would have to battle tonight.  We ran into a tough jump top-spin server in Constanza Perez Sain who found her rhythm in set four (six aces in the set, eight in the match) and put the match put of reach."

Set One
The opening frame featured eight ties and five lead changes.  The Pride built a 20-17 lead only to see the Mids knot the score at 20-20.  The teams exchanged the ensuing two points (21-21), then another sideout on a kill gave Hofstra a 22-21 lead.  It became a 23-21 advantage on a Navy attack error, then the score was cut in half (23-22) on a kill from freshman Farrah Eike.  The Pride reached set point on a kill, then a ball handling error by the Mids gave Hofstra the set.

Set Two
The score was tied at 9-9 when the Mids ran off the next three points to take a 12-9 lead.  The cushion dwindled to one point at both 13-12 and 14-13, then Navy expanded the margin to 16-13 and 18-14.  The Mids led by at least three points over the remainder of the stanza.

Set Three
Navy again was able to take a three-point lead in the middle of the set, this time at 13-10.  Back came Hofstra and the score would be tied at 15-15, 16-16 and 17-17.  The Pride scored the next five points to take a 22-17 lead which the Mids could not cut into before the set ended.

Set Four
Hofstra scored 10 of the first 11 points of the set on its way to closing out the two-hour match.

Inside the Numbers
Hofstra recorded eight aces in the fourth set and finished the day with 15 while it limited Navy to four aces.

The Pride also held leads of 51-37 in kills and .220-.115 in hitting percentage.

Individually, Eike, Toppin and Hauanio-Lore each finished with seven kills, while Amara Chambers had 12 digs and both Hannah Hoover and Arleigh Hanson finished with 11 digs.  Burgoyne added five blocks and Lutz tallied four blocks.

"Each match we play this season will build our cohesion and we made some great connections today," said Labrador.

Up Next
Navy will face Wake Forest Sunday at 3 p.m.  The match will be streamed via the ACC Network Extra.