Nov. 16, 2007
By Chevonne Mansfield
Special to www.umeshawks.com
Box Score
HAMPTON, VA. - The UMES volleyball team went 2-0 in the MEAC volleyball semifinals Friday and advanced to Saturday's final against Florida A&M at Hampton University's Holland Hall.
The Lady Hawks (24-3) outlasted Delaware State (DSU) in a five-game struggle, 26-30, 30-16, 30-27, 19-30,15-10 and will meet Florida A&M (17-6) in the noon finale. The Rattlers eliminated Howard 30-14, 30-19, 30-21 and Morgan State 30-16, 30-19, 30-26 to gain a spot in the championship.
The Hawks, the No. 1 seed in the north, regained their discipline after allowing the Hornets (11-20) to rally from a 2-1 deficit to force a fifth game.
"We got our momentum back in the fifth game after DSU climbed back in the match," said UMES Head Coach Don Metil. "We had a team effort and got a lot out of Sam Chukwura in the middle, she hasn't let us down all year."
The 5-foot-9 Chukwura hurt the Hornets with 11 kills and three blocks.
The Hawks got solid performances from MEAC Player of the Year Whitney Johnson and all-league first team selection Christina Estebane'. The tandem combined for 39 kills.
Estebane' complemented her performance with 46 set-assists and 13 digs.
"We got more emotional and played harder to regain our composure," Metil said. "Delaware State is very talented and they really gave it to us," he added.
UMES made easy work of Norfolk State in its opening match and swept the Spartans, 30-14, 30-21, 30-13 for their 21st consecutive victory.
The Lady Hawks took control in the match with some well-aimed placement kills by Holiday Eller. The senior registered 11 kills and two solo blocks. She got ample help from Johnson with 11 kills.
"We have only seen Norfolk once this season and went into this match as we do every other contest," Metil said. "We took control playing very well defensively and picked each other up from there as we've done all season."
UMES displayed their typical offensive balance. Middle Adora Luster and Estebane' produced six and five eight kills, respectively.
Service success was just as well distributed with Estebane' and Luster combining for nine aces, while Leah Amundson added two. Libero Amundson also contributed five digs.
"That balance has helped us all season," Metil said. "We don't have to rely on one person. Opponents must respect that balance and can't key on stopping just one player."
Norfolk State climbed back in it after being down two games to none, until UMES broke an eight-all deadlock in the beginning of the third game. Eller's kill spurred an 11-1 Hawk run and forced the Spartans to take a timeout at 19-9.
The maroon and gray bolted to a 23-13 lead on kills by Luster and Johnson and coasted the rest of the way.
UMES looks forward to returning to the MEAC Championship, a place they haven't been since the 2004 season.
"We are a young squad but we are confident, mature and playing together better than ever before," Metil said.
