Oct. 22, 2010
Final Stats
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Freshman Maline Vaitai (Salt Lake City, Utah) recorded a match-high 11 kills and six service aces as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's volleyball team won its 10th straight match, defeating Howard, 3-0 (25-17, 25-8, 25-20), on Senior Day at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center Friday.
The win for UMES (16-9, 5-0 MEAC) stretches its NCAA-leading conference winning streak to 35 matches while also marking the Hawks' 14th straight victory at the Hytche Center, a number which was tied for 13th nationally coming into play against the Bison.
UMES hit .312 (36-11-80) versus Howard (4-17, 1-3), paced by a .400 performance from junior Zoe Bowens (Long Beach, Calif.). Bowens collected nine kills on 20 attacks with just one error and also threw in another six aces. UMES limited the Bison to .090 from the floor with 25 kills and 18 errors on 78 attacks.
Coming into the match as the NCAA leader in aces per set at 2.16, UMES tallied 13 more aces to pace the win.
In her final match at the Hytche Center, redshirt senior Samantha Chukwura (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had six kills in 13 swings with just one error, hitting .385.
Junior Rebecca Prado (Annandale, N.J.) and freshman Jingqiao Li (Beijing, China) contributed 12 and 10 digs, respectively, for a UMES defense that had 34 total. Sophomore Stephanie Sierra (El Paso, Texas) also had 37 assists.
UMES scored 11-of-12 points to start the match and led and were never seriously threatened on its way to taking the game eight points. Howard closed to within seven on four straight points, but an attack error from Tosin Elebute gave UMES the win.
The Hawks hit .700 in the second set with one error and eight kills on 10 attacks. Up 9-5, UMES rattled off 12 consecutive points the stretch featured four Vaitai aces, including three straight. A Bowens kill from junior Desirae Ceniceros (Las Cruces, N.M.) nailed down the win in the middle frame.
Howard put up more of a fight in the final game, leading 12-11 on a Jasmin King service ace before UMES took control with four straight points and didn't relinquish the lead from there. Kills from Vaitai, Bowens and Chukwura highlighted the run. The Bison cut the deficit to 17-16 but the Hawks closed the match out with a final ace by Bowens for the win.
UMES is on the road for the rest of the season, starting with a 3 p.m. match at Morgan State Sunday.
