Sept. 4, 2011

Final Stats

TAMPA, Fla. -- UMES fell to Eastern Kentucky 3-0 (21-25, 18-25, 12-25) on the final day of the USF Invitational on Sunday. The Hawks finish 1-3 in the invitational while the Colonels improve to 4-4 on the season.

In the first set, Eastern Kentucky came out with an early 9-0 run to take a 12-3 advantage. UMES attempted a comeback, including four kills from Saitaua Iosia (Long Beach, Calif.) to get within five. Later with the Colonels up 20-13, the Hawks won seven of the next nine points, with a pair of kills from Ndidi Ibe (North Richland, Texas), to get within two 22-20, but fell short in the game 25-21.

The next game saw a similar start as the Colonels had a 7-0 run to go up 8-2. The Hawks had four different players record kills in a span of 14 points to try to get back into the set, getting within four at 16-12, but Eastern Kentucky would take the set 25-18.

Iosia had three kills early in the third set to try to get UMES on pace. But the Colonels put together three runs of 4-0 or better to take the third set 25-12 and take the match 3-0.

Iosia, who got 10 kills and six digs against Eastern Kentucky, was named to the All-Tournament Team after scoring 55 kills and 39 digs in the invitational. Ibe, Maline Vaitai (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa (Salt Lake City, Utah) all finished with five kills a piece.

For the Colonels, Ashley Edmond and Hannah Burkle each recorded 12 kills, while libero Dana Ott got 19 digs.

The Hawks will next compete in the Bryant Invitational in Smithfield, Rhode Island on Friday, September 9th, where they will go against the tournament host at 4:00 p.m.