Final Stats

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two days after a tough three set losses against American, the Hawks volleyball squad hoped for a better outcome against MEAC competition in a matchup versus Howard. This trip to the nation's capital was not much more forgiving than the first as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) dropped the match in straight sets. The Hawks head back to Princess Anne with an 8-9 record (1-1 MEAC) while the Bison jump over the .500 mark overall with a 9-8 record (2-0 MEAC).

This crucial early conference bout saw its most tense moments occur in the second set. After Howard took the opening set, 25-17, the Bison sought to deliver another convincing set win. It looked as though that might happen as Howard withheld a couple small UMES rallies to push the score to 15-8. Then freshman Alana Polk (Houston, Tex.) delivered a kill, and a second kill from sophomore Haley Robinson (Honolulu, Hawaii) saw the Hawks draw closer.

When HU pushed the lead back to seven at 19-12, UMES got another key kill from Robinson to regain the serve. Five straight points would bring the Hawks back, thanks to a kill, solo block and block assist by Polk and a kill and block assist from junior Ashley Smith (Huntley, Ill.). After trading off points, an ace by sophomore Sonia Rosales (Victorville, Calif.) tied the set at 22 apiece.

A service error by the Bison negated a two point set win of 25-23 and forced extra time, where neither team wanted to budge. Smith kept the Hawks alive with two kills early, but Howard got a kill from Katherine Broussard to deny UMES a two set win and re-tie the match at 28. Freshman Kirstin Fink (Tucson, Ariz.) registered a kill to drive the score to 30-29, but Whitney Fields brought the Bison back again. When Howard tied it again at 32, they benefited from two Hawk attack errors to take the set by a final of 34-32, officially ending the longest set for the Hawks this season.

Howard rode the momentum of winning the long set into set three, immediately rattling off three points to take an early lead. UMES would rally a couple of times to bring their deficit to three points again, but the Hawks would get no closer. A 25-20 Bison set win ended the match, sending the Hawks home 1-2 on the road trip with a victory over Delaware State and a loss to American.

Smith was the lone Hawk in double figures in kills with eleven, followed by Fink who had six. Both Fink and sophomore Precious Manu (Carson, Calif.) tied for the team lead in digs with ten, and Smith, Manu and Rosales each contributed an ace.

UMES returns home this Sunday for a matinee MEAC matchup with the Eagles of Coppin State. Admission is free to the 3:00 p.m. contest at the Hytche Center.