Oct. 7, 2011
Final Stats
BALTIMORE -- UMES rallied back after falling in the first set against Coppin State, earning 13.5 blocks en route to a 3-1 (21-25, 25-16, 25-14, 25-11) victory on the road. The Hawks move to 2-0 in the conference and 11-6 overall. Coppin State falls to 3-16 and 0-4 in the MEAC.
Coppin State took an early lead in set one 4-1, as the Hawks tried to get closer. UMES managed to tie the score at 21 in part to five kills from Saitaua Iosia (Long Beach, Calif.), but the Eagles took the final four points to win set one 25-21.
Shortly into the second set, Ndidi Ibe (North Richland, Texas) led the way for the Hawks with a kill and a pair of blocks as UMES started with a 5-0 run. UMES recovered from a 4-0 run by Coppin State with three straight points, started by kills from Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Maline Vaitai (Salt Lake City, Utah) to go up 11-6. After that, UMES never trailed by less than three. At 20-16 UMES, the Hawks won the final five points to win set two 25-16, totaling five blocks in the game and evening the match.
Game three started with each side going back and forth. At 6-5 Coppin State, the Hawks won five straight points, led by two blocks by Vaitai to go up 9-6. After an Eagles point, Vaitai kept going with a kill and block during a 3-0 run. UMES held their lead when at 18-12, the Hawks went on a 5-0 run including a kill and ace from Iosia. The Hawks won 25-14 to take a 2-1 match advantage.
UMES came out strong again into the fourth set with the first three points, capped by an Iosia ace. The Hawks kept the pressure: at 4-2 UMES, the Maroon and Grey took 14 of the next 17 points, including a 7-0 run in-between and a trio of kills from Vaitai, to go up 18-7. A final late 4-0 run by the Hawks sealed the match as UMES took game four 25-11 and took a 3-1 victory.
Iosia earned a double-double with 13 kills, with only three errors for a .417 hitting percentage, 13 digs and four aces. Vaitai also had 13 kills, adding six blocks including two solo. Lea'Aetoa got 10 kills with two errors to hit .421, adding five blocks.
Ariel Richard led the Eagles with a double-double of 12 kills and 12 digs, adding three aces.
The Hawks return to Baltimore on Sunday for a 4:30 p.m. match against MEAC rival Morgan State.
