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PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Seeking a sweep in the Best Western Wild Weekend, the host University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) had the Campbell Camels standing in their way. An early set win seemed destined to lead the Hawks to a match win. However, the Camels would strike back and win the next three sets for a 3-1 match win over UMES. Campbell improved to 8-7 while the Hawks fell to 7-7. Campbell would win the tournament while the Hawks finished in second.

UMES seized control of the first set midway through when a kill by senior Ksenia Sukhareva (Moscow, Russia) tied the score at 11. After a Campbell kill, freshman Kirstin Fink (Tucson, Ariz.) gained the rally back to re-tie at 12 and begin a 5-0 run to give UMES a four point advantage. The Hawks and Camels would trade points with two kills coming from junior Ashley Smith (Huntley, Ill.) and a third from sophomore Haley Robinson (Honolulu, Hawaii) before the Hawks pushed to take the set. Late in the match, Smith contributed an ace and Sukhareva added three kills, aiding UMES to a 25-16 win in the set.

Unfortunately the Hawks were unable to ride the momentum into the second set. Campbell jumped out to an early advantage of 6-4 and kept it from there. The Camels ultimately used a 7-0 run to overwhelm the Hawks in set two by a 25-15 score.

Smith sought to put the Hawks back on top in set three with her serves, and along with kills from Fink, Sukhareva, and freshman Alana Polk (Houston, Tex.), the Hawks led early at 6-1. But a 4-0 Campbell run nearly leveled the score and they would eventually grab the lead at 11-10. When the Camels drove the lead to four at 22-18, the Hawks would rally to tie the score with kills by Robinson, Polk, Fink and Smith. When the Hawks gained a 24-23 lead to force a set point, the Camels responded with a kill, a forced error and an ace for a 26-24 win.

The third set gave the Camels the confidence to complete the match, as they went on a 16-9 run at the start, and despite a well executed comeback from the Hawks, captured the set and match with a 25-21 score.

Sukhareva and Smith took home All-Tournament team honors for their efforts over the four games. In the matchup against Campbell, Sukhareva contributed a team-high 17 kills while Smith added 11. Sukhareva also finished with 15 digs, second behind the 24 from sophomore Allison Woods (Magnolia, Tex.). Smith led the Hawks with two aces.

BEST WESTERN WILD WEEKEND ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

Alexis Hein, Campbell (MVP)

Katelyn Layden, Campbell

Ksenia Sukhareva, UMES

Ashley Smith, UMES

Delicia Pierre, B-CU

Megan Burgess, Binghamton

Kaitlyn Griffin, Rider

Delaware State will be the Hawks next opponent when they travel to Dover on Friday. Match time is listed at 6:00pm.