Box Score

RICHMOND, Va.-- In their final non-conference tune up of the season, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) volleyball team rallied from a tough first set and defeated the VCU Rams, 3-1 (16-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22) at the Siegel Center in Richmond Wednesday night. The victory improves the Hawks' record to 21-6 overall and the team has won two of three against the Atlantic 10 this season.

Two freshmen--Lucia Babic (Sisak, Croatia) and Zuzana Ondruskova (Bilovec, Czech Republic)--recorded double-doubles in the match. Babic led the Hawks in kills with 14 and came in second in digs with 16, while Ondruskova tallied 12 kills and 14 digs. Sophomore Alana Polk (Houston, Texas) led the team in blocks with two solos and five block assists. Senior Petra Jerabkova (Prague, Czech Republic) assisted on 33 of the team's 44 kills, and fellow senior Andjela Reljic (Novi Sad, Serbia) earned 19 digs, becoming the third player to hit double figures in digs.

After the Hawks lost by nine in the first set, play in the second set was even early on with each team trading off points. However, the Hawks grabbed the lead midway thru the set with kills from Klafuric and Ondruskova were able to keep the momentum going, leading by as much as six. When the Rams stormed back, the Hawks held firm and were able to tie the match at 1-1 with a four point edge.

Following the intermission, UMES raced out to a 10-5 lead and forced a VCU timeout. The Hawks would lead by as many as eight, but that deficit would be cut by the Rams, forcing tight play. Although the home team would tie it at 18, the visiting Hawks would rally and have the last laugh. A Klafuric ace, and kills from Ondruskova and Babic gave the Hawks a five point win.

A kill from Polk got UMES on the right foot, but VCU battled to keep the fourth set close. The teams battled back-and-forth with each team taking the lead. After a series of ties, the Hawks grabbed the lead on a Polk block at 16-15, and would never relinquish it. An ace from Reljic and a pair of kills from Babic pushed the team to the victory.

UMES closes out its regular season with senior day festivities Friday night against Norfolk State. First serve is scheduled for 8:30p.m. or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the women's basketball game versus Georgetown.