Sept. 29, 2011
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HOME SLATE KICKS OFF WITH UMES HAWK INVITE
The 2011 home campaign for the Maroon and Grey begins with the UMES Hawk Invitational. The Hawks are set to play three matches at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center, starting with Alabama State on Friday followed by matches against North Carolina Central and California State University, Bakersfield on Saturday. MEAC Northern Division rival Hampton will also play these three schools in Princess Anne. In all, nine matches will be played over the two day tournament.
METIL ONE WIN AWAY FROM #100 WITH UMES
Don Metil is one victory away from reaching 100 with UMES, currently standing at 99-38 during his fifth season. He is also 16 wins from reaching 200 as a head coach dating back to 2002, including stops at Notre Dame (MD), Lees-McRae and Coppin State. Metil's first win in Division I came at Coppin State against UMES 3-2 on Sept. 25, 2005, while his first UMES win came against Coppin State 3-0 on Aug. 24, 2007.
IOSIA MEAC'S BEST ROOKIE FOURTH TIME RUNNING
Saitaua Iosia has done something that no other person has done during Don Metil's time at UMES, win MEAC Rookie of the Week four straight times. The freshman outside hitter earned the honor last week, combining for 36 kills and 35 digs. She is now one of only three players in the MEAC to be a member of the 20-kill club and 20-dig club.
UMES 8TH LONGEST ACTIVE HOME WINNING STREAK
Winning their last 15 matches in Princess Anne, the Hawks have the 8th longest home winning streak in the NCAA. Their last loss in the Hytche Athletic Center came on Sept. 26, 2009 with a 3-0 defeat from Sacred Heart. During this win streak, UMES has gone a perfect 45-0 in sets in Princess Anne. In addition, this streak marks the longest in the MEAC.
Team Current Home Win Streak (as of 9/28)
1- Cincinatti 42
2- Central Arkansas 30
3- Nebraska 28
4- Sacred Heart 22
5- Texas 21
6- Ball State 18
7- San Diego 17
8- UMES 15
9- Purdue 14
NO PLACE LIKE HYTCHE
UMES has a 35-15 (.700 winning percentage) record in regular season tournaments in Princess Anne since the 2002 season. The Hawks have gone undefeated in five (Ramada Inn Invitational - 2002, Hawk Challenge - 2003, UMES Kickoff Classic - 2006, UMES Comfort Inn Classic - 2007, Peaky's North/South UMES Invitational - 2010) of the 14 total tournaments.
HAWKS FLYING HIGH ATOP THE MEAC
UMES leads the MEAC in six major categories: hitting percentage (.199), opponent's hitting percentage (.188), assists per set (11.56), kills per set (12.42) and blocks per set (2.13) and digs per set (13.40).
VICIC LEADS MEAC 30-ASSIST CLUB
Freshman setter Jessie Vicic is atop the 30-assists club of the MEAC, getting above that mark in ten of UMES's matches. Her highest total this season came against Campbell in the High Point Invitational, notching 56 assists in the five-set match. She also in first in the conference in assists per set at 10.28, totaling 514 in 50 sets, and is the only player in the MEAC that averages double digit assists per set.
BUZZ-"SA"
Saitaua Iosia, who has led the Hawks in kills in all but one match this season, ranks second in the MEAC in kills per set at 4.00 (t-47th in the nation), points per set at 4.63, leading all underclassmen in those categories. In twelve matches this year, Iosia has recorded eight double-doubles, including 15 kills and 26 digs against Campbell last Saturday.
20-DIG CLUB
UMES has two members of this season's 20-dig club. Rebecca Prado, the Hawks libero for all matches this year, has had over 20 digs three times this year, joining the group with 26 digs in their first victory with Bryant, followed by 21 against Holy Cross and 23 in the win over High Point. Saitaua Iosia earned a place after getting 26 digs as part of a double-double with 15 kills against Campbell.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
UMES begins the invitational with Alabama State from the SWAC, standing at 7-13 on the season, including 0-2 against the MEAC. The Hornets are led by freshman outside hitter Maya Bell, who is 16th in the nation in kills per set and 6th in aces per set, totaling 314 and 41 respectively, adding 124 digs. Sophomore libero Luiza Griz leads the team in digs with 185, adding 32 service aces and 40 kills.
North Carolina Central, in their first year of full membership with the MEAC since 1979 after rejoining the Division I ranks, comes to Princess Anne at 1-13. The MEAC South member, coming off a conference win over North Carolina A&T, is led by freshman outside hitter Dayanna Arrufat with 115 kills with 77 digs. The Eagles are bolstered in the middle by sophomore Kalin Russell with 33 total blocks, adding 46 kills.
In an East Coast versus West Coast match, the Hawks take on California State University, Bakersfield. The 3-11 Roadrunners are in their second year as an Division I member and are currently independent. Sophomore outside hitter Haleigh Haratyk has over 40% of her team's kills with 208, 15th in the country in kills per set, also contributing 85 digs and 11 aces. Redshirt junior outside hitter Tika Smith has 95 kills and 14 aces.
HAWKS SPLIT AT HIGH POINT INVITATIONAL
After falling to Campbell in five sets in the morning, the Hawks regrouped and defeated tournament host High Point 3-1 to split on the day. The team goes to 6-6 to stay at .500 on the season. Maline Vaitai combined for 32 kills and 19 digs, including five aces against High Point. Victoria Williams earned 18 kills with only two errors on 31 total attacks for an attack % of .516.
UMES WINS BROWN INVITATIONAL CO-CHAMPIONSHIP
For the second straight weekend, the Hawks were co-champions in a tournament in Rhode Island, taking a share of the title of the Brown Invitational with Brown after going 2-1. UMES defeated Bryant in a rematch and tournament host Brown, each of the Rhode Island schools, in five sets, while falling to Fordham 3-1. Saitaua Iosia and Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa were named to the All-Tournament Team.
UMES NAMED BRYANT INVITATIONAL CO-CHAMPION
The Hawks were named co-champion of the Bryant Invitational, going 2-1 over two days, sharing the title with defeated opponent Harvard. UMES came back from falling in the first set to defeat Bryant 3-1 to open on Friday. After a defeat against Holy Cross 3-0, the Hawks earned their first shutout victory of the season over the Crimson 3-0. Outside hitters Saitaua Iosia and Maline Vaitai were named to the All-Tournament Team.
PERFECT NON-CONFERENCE ROAD RECORD
The Hawks finished their non-conference slate with a unblemished 4-0 record over tournament hosts, defeating South Florida, Bryant, Brown and High Point. UMES's wins over South Florida and Brown were each comeback victories after the Hawks fell in the first two sets. Currently UMES is the only MEAC team that is perfect in road matches.
UMES HAWK INVITATIONAL FULL SCHEDULE
Friday, September 30th
Alabama State v. CSU Bakersfield 1:00 p.m.
Hampton v. N.C. Central 3:00 p.m.
Alabama State @ UMES 5:00 p.m.
CSU Bakersfield v. N.C. Central 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 1st
Alabama State v. Hampton 10:00 a.m.
N.C. Central @ UMES 12:00 p.m.
CSU Bakersfield v. Hampton 2:00 p.m.
Alabama State v. N.C. Central 4:00 p.m.
CSU Bakersfield @ UMES 7:00 p.m.
UMES MATCHES TO AIR ON WGOP
WGOP 540 AM and 100.7 FM is now the flagship station of Hawks volleyball and will air all matches live on the radio this year. Dave Vatz returns for his second season with UMES and will provide play-by-play for each match. Fans can listen online on umeshawks.com.
UMES PICKED TO FINISH 1ST IN MEAC NORTH
The Hawks were chosen to finish first in the MEAC Northern Division, receiving 21 of 26 first-place votes. UMES is currently the four-time defending MEAC North champion. Delaware State was picked to finished second to UMES, while Florida A&M is picked to finish first in the Southern Division over defending MEAC champion South Carolina State.
VAITAI NAMED COBRA ALL-PRESEASON THIRD TEAM
In their annual August preseason issue, COBRA Magazine named Maline Vaitai to the All-Preseason Third Team, being the only MEAC player to receive this honor. Last season, Vaitai along with Zoe Bowens and Samantha Chukwura received All-National Honorable Mention as well as All-East Region Team. UMES was last represented on a COBRA All-National Team in 2009 when Whitney Johnson received second team honors.
Maline Vaitai NAMED MEAC PRESEASON POY
Sophomore outside hitter Maline Vaitai was named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year by the conference in August. Last season she earned MEAC Rookie of the Year after leading the conference in kills with 407, kills per set at 3.45, points with 476.5 and points per set at 4.04. In addition, senior outside hitter Zoe Bowens was also named to the MEAC Preseason Team with 350 kills and 79 aces in 2010.
2010 IN REVIEW
With a roster of just nine players, the Hawks went 20-12 and 8-2 in the MEAC to secure their fourth straight MEAC Northern Division title and 20-win season. After a 1-7 start, UMES went on a 16-2 run, including a streak of 11-straight three set victories and an 8-0 run at home. The Hawks earned a 1-seed in the MEAC Tournament and defeated Bethune-Cookman 3-1 before a defeat to eventual conference champion South Carolina State 3-1 in the semifinals. Maline Vaitai earned MEAC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-MEAC while Samantha Chukwura, Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa and Stephanie Sierra earned Second Team All-MEAC.
