DOVER, Delaware — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team fell to the Delaware State University Hornets in straight sets on Friday night (October 1) in their second straight road match.
"The team played with a lot of heart tonight and every one of those sets were winnable," head coach Trevor Callarman said. "We had leads and they closed the gap because of our errors, but we are going to keep this match in perspective because we do feel we have a championship caliber team."
The opening set of the match took 43 minutes to complete. The set was marred with challenges that could not be determined. The first came when the Hornets led 14-13 and appeared to commit a ball handling error before they got a kill. Coach Callarman challenged the call, but the play could not accurately be seen using replay so the point remained DSU's. However, the Hawks did retain their challenge.
Maryland Eastern Shore responded with three straight points before Delaware State called timeout. Two plays later, DSU challenged a point by the Hawks and it led to a five minute review before the play was ultimately not changed.
Callarman issued a third challenge of the frame after the Hawks were called for a service line error. The play was not reversed and the Hornets took a 23-21 advantage. They would hold on to win the set 25-22.
In the second set, The Shore jumped out to an early 5-1 advantage. They maintained their lead late into the set and following a kill from senior Marina Cruz they held an 18-15 advantage.
The Hornets then went on a 5-0 run and forced an Eastern Shore timeout. The Hawks did not go quietly as they came within one at 24-23 to make Delaware State take timeout. After the break, Maryland Eastern Shore could not grab another point and DSU took the frame 25-23.
In the third set, the Hawks held an 8-3 lead and forced a Delaware State timeout. The squad led 17-15 late in the set, but the Hornets would get seven of the next eight points to lead 22-18 and force The Shore to take a timeout. Maryland Eastern Shore grabbed a point after the break but would not get closer as the final set finished 25-20.
Seniors Alexis Lee and Mauri Carver along with sophomore Maya Hendricks each had six kills to tie for the team lead. Defensively, Carver and freshman Charlize Williams each had four total blocks to tie for the game-high.
Maryland Eastern Shore plays just one match this weekend for the first time all season. After a week off, the Hawks will play three of their next four matches at home. The first of those contests is on October 8 against South Carolina State at 6 p.m.
"We are about at the halfway point of the season and this is the time where it is nice to get a little break," Callarman said. "This is a much needed break but we are also looking at the next matches too."
