Oct. 23, 2011
Final Stats
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. -- Four Hawks each got nine kills as UMES defeated Howard in the Hytche Athletic Center in four sets to improve to 7-0 in the MEAC and 15-6 overall. The Hawks earned their 20th straight home victory with the win. Howard falls to 4-19 and 3-3 in-conference.
At 3-3 in the first set, the Hawks took five of the next six points to go up 8-4, later going on a 3-0 run powered by a kill and block assist each from Maline Vaitai (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Jessie Vicic (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada) for an 11-5 lead. At 13-7 UMES, the home team took four straight, including an ace from Rebecca Prado (Annandale, N.J.). A later pair of 3-0 runs for UMES led to a 25-14 first game win.
After Howard took the first point in the second set, UMES had a 4-0 run. Howard got to within one at 5-4, but the Hawks took the net five points including another Prado ace. The Maroon and Grey did not allow the Lady Bison to get close in this set again, including a late 4-0 run including a Saitaua Iosia (Long Beach, Calif.) ace. Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa (Salt Lake City, Utah) got two late kills to secure a 25-16 set victory to go up 2-0 in the match.
The Hawks came out with a 4-2 lead in game three with a kill and block by Ndidi Ibe (North Richland, Texas). Howard rallied for a 4-0 run. UMES tied the score at seven, but the Lady Bison came on strong to take the third game 25-12.
UMES built an 8-2 lead early in the fourth set capped by a run of five straight points, including two kills from Vaitai. Later, a 5-0 run with a Lea'Aetoa ace built a 14-6 Hawks lead. Howard pushed to within four at 16-12, but a Hawks 4-0 run put the lead at eight. UMES took the win 25-16 in the fourth set for a 3-1 victory over Howard.
Lea'Aetoa, Iosia, Vaitai with Ibe all finished with nine kills, with Ibe adding four blocks. Vicic finished with 41 assists with seven digs. As a team, UMES hit .365 with 48 kills and only 13 errors.
Tosin Elebute of Howard got 22 kills, adding two aces. Stephanie Shultis had six kills with a block and 11 assists.
UMES will rematch against Howard on Friday, October 28th at 6:00 p.m. in Washington D.C.
