HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (September 13, 2014)—The Sacred Heart women's volleyball team completed their sweep of the Hofstra Invitational Saturday with a pair of five-set wins over Fordham and Hofstra. Tori Kemper (Banks, Ore.) shined throughout the day leading both matching with 16 and 15 kills respectively as the Pioneers improve to 4-5 on the young season.

Kemper was one of three Pioneer hitters to reach double-digit kills against Hofstra. Sarah Krufka (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) tallied 13 and Makayla Dole (Cypress, Calif.) 11. Dole continued to show her command for the game early in her rookie season posting her third double-double of the year.

SHU took the first set 25-18 before dropping the next two 25-16. Knowing the Rams were 25 points away from claiming victory, the Pioneers took the first two points of the set and never looked back maintaining the lead all the way to the 25-17 win and forcing a decisive fifth set.

The teams traded points early in the final set. With the score tied at three, the Pioneers rallied behind the strong serving of Katie Direnzo (Shelton, Conn.) for a seven-point run bringing them within five points of the W. Fordham managed three more points, but a Direnzo kill cemented the 15-7 win.

Sacred Heart stole a close first set 25-23 over the Pride in the tournament finale before dropping the next two 25-18 and 25-16. After exchanging point through the early parts of the set, Hofstra broke a 10-10 tie with an 8-1 run giving the Pride the first real advantage of the game. SHU came back to within one, 20-19, thanks to kills from Marie Zimmerman (Denver, Colo.) and Dole. Continuing to trail with Hofstra at match point, a kill from Krufka and an ace by Direnzo tied the game at 24 forcing extra points. The Pioneers wasted no time. Riding the momentum of the comeback, kills from freshman Lila Palmer (Cypress, Texas) and Kemper took the match to a fifth set.

The Pioneers dominated the final set easily clinching the 15-7 win.