Box Score Nov. 6, 2015 Box Score
NORFOLK, Va.-- Needing to win their remaining three MEAC Northern Division contests to give themselves a shot at the #2 seed in the conference tournament, the UMES volleyball team began a crucial two match road stretch against Norfolk State Friday night. With a great performance both offensively and defensively, the Hawks earned a 3-0 victory over the Spartans (25-16, 25-19, 25-19) at Gill Gymnasium in Norfolk.
Freshman Zuzana Ondruskova (Bilovec, Czech Republic) tallied 11 kills to lead the team. Sophomore Alana Polk (Houston, Texas) hit .583 while chipping in four blocks--one solo, three assists. Senior Petra Jerabkova (Prague, Czech Republic) averaged over 10 assists per set with 32 for the match, and fellow senior Andjela Reljic (Novi Sad, Serbia) totaled 13 digs, most on the squad.
Overall the Hawks hit .304 as a team, their best percentage since their victory over Morgan State October 9th, and their third best performance all season long.
Feeding off the momentum of a senior day presentation, the home town Spartans stormed out of the gate, building up a 10-5 lead to force a Hawks timeout. But that stoppage in play was just what the doctor ordered for the visitors. The Hawks quickly tied the contest at 12, then rolled on a 13-4 to take the first set.
The second set would play tighter as the two sides played to a 10-10 tie thru the first 20 points. However, the Hawks began to build their lead shortly thereafter. A block by freshman Lucia Babic (Sisak, Croatia) and junior Haley Robinson (Honolulu, Hawaii) gave UMES a five point advantage at the 19-14 mark. They would maintain that edge, and a Polk kill granted the Hawks a 2-0 lead at the intermission.
After a brief trade off in points to begin the third set, UMES blazed to a 6-0 run, thanks to four Ondruskova kills. Her and her teammates kept it going, forcing match point up by 10. Although Norfolk State mounted a ferocious rally to keep their hopes alive, the advantage was insurmountable. A Jerabkova kill sealed a six point set win and the match for the Hawks.
The second leg of the road trip commences Sunday when the Hawks travel to Dover to face Delaware State. First serve is scheduled for 1:00p.m. at Memorial Hall.
