Dover, Del. (Aug. 31, 2013) --- The Delaware State University volleyball team opened the 2013 season with losses to Hofstra and St. Francis (N.Y.) by 3-0 scores at the Hofstra Asics Invitational in Hempstead, N.Y. this weekend.

The Hornets fell to Hofstra 13-25, 12-25 and 19-25  in the tournament opener. Jessica Russell-Croucher and Edarkis Branch led DSU with seven kills each. Russell-Croucher also topped the team with six digs, while Natalia Mendieta had a team-high 10 assists.

Hofstra's Kelsie Wills led all players with 13 assists, while teammate Kaitlyn Krause collected a game-high 21 assists.

Delaware State was upended by St. Francis 20-25, 28-30 and 18-25. Jasmine Jackson topped the Hornets with 17 kills (.171 pct), while Russell-Croucher added 10. Mendieta again led the team with 27 assists, while Sonya Inderbitzen had a team-high 10 digs.

In the first game of the match, DSU led 10-5 before St. Francis fought back to force a 14-14 tie. The Hornets led 18-16, but the Terriers scored nine of the last 11 points to take the game.

In game two, neither team led by more than three points. The game also featured 11 ties. Delaware State led 24-23, but St. Francis took the next point to force the extra play.    

The Hornets also failed to close out the match after leading 27-26 and 28-27.

St. Francis scored the last seven points of game three after the score was tied at 18.

Delaware State will return to action on Sep. 13 at the Syracuse Invitational.