ORANGEBURG, South Carolina — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team made quick work of the South Carolina State University Bulldogs on Friday night (October 29) as they won via sweep inside Dukes Gymnasium.
"I think that the energy from the team was good tonight on the court and on the bench," head coach Trevor Callarman said. "We also showed some grit as well because South Carolina State played a really good third set and we responded well."
In the opening set, the Hawks got out to an early 10-5 lead following a block from junior Derionah Abner and senior Mauri Carver. The Bulldogs would go on a run after that and eventually hold an 11-12 advantage. The Shore would get a side-out on the next point and tie the frame at 12.
After that, they would run off another six points in a row to take an 18-12 advantage with sophomore Jalynn Robinson on the service line. The run continued throughout the remainder of the set as the team finished the first frame on a 14-2 run to win 25-14.
That momentum carried into the second set as the Hawks did not let off the gas. The bulk of the squad's work came on the service line as they had seven aces in the second frame alone. That number was led by senior Stella Johnson who had four aces of her own in the set. The Shore led throughout the set as a ball handling error from SCSU ended the frame with a 25-9 Hawks victory.
The Bulldogs responded in the third set and were up 10-8. Maryland Eastern Shore would answer that by tying the match at 10, but SC State would stay strong and held a 15-11 advantage to force a timeout from the Hawks.
Following the break, Eastern Shore would assert themselves and score six straight points to lead 17-15 and make SC State take a timeout. The two teams would split the next six points to bring the Hawks advantage to 22-20.
SC State would not score another point after that. The Hawks closed the match with the final three points courtesy of a kill from freshman Charlize Williams, a block from Abner and an attack error from South Carolina State to end the frame 25-20.
Defensively, the team had a total of 12 blocks in the match. That total is the most for the squad in conference play. Williams and Abner lead the charge at the net with six blocks apiece. Johnson had just six digs in the match, but that total moved her into fourth place all-time in school history for a career in the category.
Offensively, the Hawks had a hitting percentage of .339 in the match, which is their highest output of conference play. Abner had a game-high nine kills to lead The Shore. Robinson had her best match all-around match of the season as she posted 20 assists with career highs in kills and blocks with four and three respectively.
Maryland Eastern Shore will now travel to Durham, North Carolina for an important match with North Carolina Central on Sunday (October 31). The two teams are tied for fourth in the MEAC standings.
"We have to make sure our heads are in the match and we're playing our game (on Sunday)," Callarman said. "We've had a lot of changes this week, but no matter what we are going to Central to play our style and execute."
