Sept. 26, 2011
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - For the first time this fall season, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore saw all four of its fall athletic teams in action. The men's and women's cross country teams saw three runners place in the top-10 of the Towson Invitational while the volleyball team rounded out action with a 1-1 record at the High Point Invitational. The golf team's results at the Black College Golf Invitiational in Atlanta, Ga., were unavailable at press time.
CROSS COUNTRY
In what is becoming a consistent trend this fall season, junior Basil Melek led the charge for the men's team as he placed seventh (26:20.83) at the Towson Invitational in Hunt Valley, Md. His time in the 8k, which was only 20 seconds off the first-place finish, proved to be his third fastest finish of the season. Melek's performance helped the Hawks land a fourth-place finish. Junior Zavior Brown followed up Melek's performance with a 29th place finish (28.52.30) before senior Shadrack Maritim crossed the finish line in 29:40.50 eight places later. Junior Codjo Gbedo ended up in 30:29.23 while sophomore Mark Williams (33:18.45) rounded out the top-5 for the Hawks in 46th place.
Senior Cynthia Anais led the pack for the UMES women as she received her highest placing of the year with a fifth-place showing (19:33.21) in the women's 5k race at the Towson Invitational. Anais' efforts ended up being five places higher than UMES's next finisher, senior Eunice Jones, who placed 10th with a time of 19:42.17. The maroon and grey pack was paced by sophomore Hana Jiraskova (24th place) and junior Emilie Ducados (41st place), who finished with times of 21:01.76 and 22:30.99, respectively. Junior Janell Wade rounded out the top-5 for the women when she finished in 51st place with a time of 22:50.41.
VOLLEYBALL
The UMES volleyball team went 1-1 this past weekend at the High Point Invitational. The women dropped a 3-2 decision (19-25, 28-26, 19-25, 25-22, 10-15) to Campbell University before concluding the tournament with a 3-1 victory (20-25, 25-21, 25-18, 26-24) over High Point. With the victory over the hosts, the Hawks remained undefeated on the road this season.
The Hawks (6-6) were led by freshman Saitaua Iosia and sophomore Maline Vaitai, who combined for 68 kills and 54 digs in the two contests. Iosia led the team with 36 kills including a 21 kill, nine dig performance against High Point. Sophomore Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa helped pace the Hawk for the weekend as she ended up with 21 kills, 19 digs and seven blocks. Senior Rebecca Prado dug out an impressive 40 balls for the Hawks, including a 23 effort against High Point.
UPCOMING WEEK (Sept. 26-Oct. 3)
The cross country teams and the golf teams are both inactive this upcoming week. The volleyball team will open up its home action for the 2011-2012 season this weekend as they host the UMES Hawk Invitational at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center. UMES squares off against Alabama State University on Friday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. before playing on Saturday against North Carolina Central University at 12 p.m. and California State University Bakersfield at 7 p.m.
For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visit www.umeshawks.com.
