BALTIMORE, Maryland — After dropping two consecutive matches, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team got back to its winning ways with a Sunday afternoon (November 7) sweep of the Morgan State University Bears. The scores by set were 25-18, 30-28 and 25-22.
"This was a good team win," head coach Trevor Callarman said. "It feels good to get back in the win column especially after the defeats we had recently."
The Hawks scored the first four points of the opening set. They would continue to lead as an ace from sophomore Portia Strasburg put them up 13-8 and forced a timeout from Morgan State. The Bears responded by closing the gap to two points as Eastern Shore led 18-16 late in the frame.
Maryland Eastern Shore would score five straight points after MSU got within two. The Bears would score two points after that, but they would commit a service error and senior Mauri Carver would get a block on the next point to end the set.
In the second set, the two teams were tied at nine after 18 points. Morgan State would gain control after that and build their advantage to 14-20. The Shore would score four straight after that to get back in the frame.
The Shore would eventually see themselves down 19-24. After a kill from senior Marina Cruz produced a side-out, sophomore Jalynn Robinson stepped to the service line. She would lead the team on a comeback that saw the Hawks take a 25-24 lead.
Morgan State would lead 26-27 and once again be one point from victory. They committed a service error at that point to tie the score. The two teams would alternate points after that and the score stood tied at 28. Carver would get a solo block on the next point before sophomore Maya Hendricks would get a kill to finish the frame and complete the comeback.
In the third set, The Shore got out to an early 11-6 advantage. Eastern Shore kept up their lead and following a kill from Carver they were five points from victory at 20-13. After a kill from junior Derionah Abner, Maryland Eastern Shore was up 24-18. The Bears would then score three straight points and force a timeout from Coach Callarman.
Following the break, MSU got another point to climb within two. That would be the last point that the home team would get as Robinson and Carver combined for a block to end the set and the match on the next point.
The Shore had a strong defensive day as the team had 12 total blocks. Carver had six blocks and Abner finished with four. Senior Stella Johnson had a game-high 16 digs behind them. Cruz had nine kills to lead the Hawks' offense.
Maryland Eastern Shore will now play their regular season finale on Friday (November 12) at home against Delaware State. The match will serve as senior day for the Hawks.
